Ecclesiastes 7
1 melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis
A good name is better than fine perfume; 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; for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.
3 melior est ira risu quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
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 the rebuke of the wise 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
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius
Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
8 melior est finis orationis quam principium melior est patiens arrogante
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit
Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests 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
Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
11 utilior est sapientia cum divitiis et magis prodest videntibus solem
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who 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 is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit
Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he 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 be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
15 haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae iustus perit in iustitia sua et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua
All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
16 noli esse iustus multum neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas
Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus ne moriaris in tempore non tuo
Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you 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 good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
19 sapientia confortabit sapientem super decem principes civitatis
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
21 sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi
Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
22 scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis
for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
23 cuncta temptavi in sapientia dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me
All this I have 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, is far off and exceedingly 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
I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is 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
I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
27 ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem
“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
28 quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni
which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.
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
Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
