Ecclesiastes 7
1 melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis
A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.
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 go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] to his heart.
3 melior est ira risu quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be 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 fools is in the house of mirth.
5 melius est a sapiente corripi quam stultorum adulatione decipi
[It is] better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla sic risus stulti sed et hoc vanitas
As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.
7 calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius
for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.
8 melior est finis orationis quam principium melior est patiens arrogante
The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.
9 ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit
Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.
10 ne dicas quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt stulta est enim huiuscemodi interrogatio
Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.
11 utilior est sapientia cum divitiis et magis prodest videntibus solem
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and [there is] an advantage [by it] to them that see the sun.
12 sicut enim protegit sapientia sic protegit pecunia hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo
For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.
13 considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit
Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has 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 prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, that man should find 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 have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.
16 noli esse iustus multum neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas
Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.
17 ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus ne moriaris in tempore non tuo
Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.
18 bonum est te sustentare iustum sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit
It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].
19 sapientia confortabit sapientem super decem principes civitatis
Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20 non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet
For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin
21 sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi
Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22 scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis
For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.
23 cuncta temptavi in sapientia dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me
All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 multo magis quam erat et alta profunditas quis inveniet eam
[That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?
25 lustravi universa animo meo ut scirem et considerarem et quaererem sapientiam et rationem et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti et errorem inprudentium
I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem quae laqueus venatorum est et sagena cor eius vincula sunt manus illius qui placet Deo effugiet eam qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa
And I find her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem
Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,
28 quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni
which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.
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
But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.
