Ecclesiastes 7
1 melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis
A good name is better than precious oil, and the day of death, better than the day of one's 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 house of feasting; inasmuch as that is the end of all men: and let the living lay it to his heart.
3 melior est ira risu quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis
Better is vexation than laughing; for through the sadness of the countenance 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 fools is in the house of joy.
5 melius est a sapiente corripi quam stultorum adulatione decipi
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than that a man should hear the song of fools.
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla sic risus stulti sed et hoc vanitas
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. Also this is vanity.
7 calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius
For [exercising] oppression maketh a wise man mad; and bribery corrupteth the heart.
8 melior est finis orationis quam principium melior est patiens arrogante
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.
9 ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit
Be not rash in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in bosom of fools.
10 ne dicas quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt stulta est enim huiuscemodi interrogatio
Thou must not say, How was it that the former days were better than these? for it is not out of wisdom that thou askest concerning this.
11 utilior est sapientia cum divitiis et magis prodest videntibus solem
Wisdom is better than an inheritance, yea, preferable for those 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 under the shadow of wisdom [a man is equally well as] under the shadow of money; but the superior excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to him that possesseth it.
13 considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit
Consider [then] the work of God; for who can make straight what 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
On the day of prosperity be happy, but on the day of adversity look on: also this hath God made in equal measure with the other, to the end that man should not find the least to censure him.
15 haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae iustus perit in iustitia sua et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is many a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is many a wicked man that liveth long in his wickedness.—
16 noli esse iustus multum neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas
Be not righteous over much; neither show thyself over wise: why wouldst thou destroy thyself?
17 ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus ne moriaris in tempore non tuo
Be not wicked over much, and be no fool: why wouldst thou die before thy time?
18 bonum est te sustentare iustum sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit
It is good that thou shouldst take hold of that, and that also from this thou withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God will come forth out of them all.
19 sapientia confortabit sapientem super decem principes civitatis
Wisdom giveth more strength to the wise than ten rulers which were in the city.
20 non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet
For no man is so righteous upon earth, that he should do always good, and never sin.—
21 sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi
Also take no heed unto all the words that are spoken: lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.
22 scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis
For oftentimes also doth thy own heart know that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.—
23 cuncta temptavi in sapientia dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 multo magis quam erat et alta profunditas quis inveniet eam
Far is what formerly was so, and what was deep remaineth deep: who can 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
Then I turned myself about together with my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and experience, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness.
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 as more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bonds: he that is deemed good before God will escape from her; but the sinner will be caught by her.
27 ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem
Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, [adding] one to the other, to find experience,
28 quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni
What my soul constantly sought, but I found it not; one man among a thousand did I find; but a woman among all these did I not find.
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
Lo, this only did I find, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought for many [sinful] devices.
