Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name is better then a good oyntment, and the day of death, then the day that one is borne.
2 Melius est ire ad domum luctus, quam ad domum convivii: in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting, because this is the ende of all men: and the liuing shall lay it to his heart.
3 Melior est ira risu: quia per tristitiam vultus, corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Anger is better then laughter: for by a sad looke the heart is made better.
4 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi laetitia.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi.
Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti: sed et hoc vanitas.
For like ye noyse of the thornes vnder the pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.
8 Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
The ende of a thing is better then the beginning thereof, and the pacient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum: quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Be not thou of an hastie spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est huiuscemodi interrogatio.
Say not thou, Why is it that the former dayes were better then these? for thou doest not enquire wisely of this thing.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisedome is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sunne.
12 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia. hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
For man shall rest in the shadowe of wisedome, and in the shadowe of siluer: but the excellencie of the knowledge of wisedome giueth life to the possessers thereof.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Beholde the worke of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?
14 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem praecave. sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias.
In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man shoulde finde nothing after him.
15 Haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
I haue seene all things in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his iustice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.
16 Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Be not thou iust ouermuch, neither make thy selfe ouerwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?
17 Ne impie agas multum: et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Be not thou wicked ouermuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?
18 Bonum est te sustentare iustum, et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.
It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdrawe not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.
Wisedome shall strengthen the wise man more then ten mightie princes that are in ye citie.
20 Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.
Surely there is no man iust in the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.
Giue not thine heart also to all ye wordes that men speake, lest thou doe heare thy seruant cursing thee.
22 scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
For often times also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me
All this haue I prooued by wisedome: I thought I will be wise, but it went farre from me.
24 multo magis quam erat: et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
It is farre off, what may it be? and it is a profound deepenesse, who can finde it?
25 Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem, et considerarem, et quaererem sapientiam, et rationem: et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. qui placet Deo, effugiet illam: qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.
And I finde more bitter then death the woman whose heart is as nettes and snares, and her handes, as bands: he that is good before God, shalbe deliuered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,
Beholde, sayth the Preacher, this haue I found, seeking one by one to finde the count:
28 quam adhuc quaerit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
And yet my soule seeketh, but I finde it not: I haue found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all haue I not founde.
29 Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quaestionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?
Onely loe, this haue I founde, that God hath made man righteous: but they haue sought many inuentions.
