Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

A good name is better than costly perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.

2 [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 will lay [it] to his heart.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for mourning comes to all people at the end of life, so living people must take this to heart.

3 Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Grief is better than laughter, for after sadness of face comes gladness of heart.

4 The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of feasting.

5 [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise than to listen to the song of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

For like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so also is the laughter of fools. This, too, is vapor.

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Extortion certainly makes a wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a matter than the beginning; and the people patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Do not be quick to anger in your spirit, for anger resides in the hearts of fools.

10 Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

Do not say, “Why were the days of old better than these?” For it is not because of wisdom that you ask this question.

11 Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good. It benefits those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

For wisdom provides protection as money can provide protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to whoever has it.

13 Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

Consider the deeds of God: Who can straighten out anything he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

When times are good, live happily in that good, but when times are bad, consider this: God has allowed both to exist side by side. For this reason, no one will find out anything that is coming after him.

15 All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness.

I have seen many things in my meaningless days. There are righteous people who perish in spite of their righteousness, and there are wicked people who live a long life in spite of their evil.

16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Do not be self-righteous, wise in your own eyes. Why should you destroy yourself?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Do not be too wicked or foolish. Why should you die before your time?

18 [It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

It is good that you should take hold of this wisdom, and that you should not let go of righteousness. For the person who fears God will meet all his obligations.

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city.

Wisdom is powerful in the wise man, more than ten rulers in a city.

20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

Do not listen to every word that is spoken, because you might hear your servant curse you.

22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

Similarly, you know yourself that in your own heart you have often cursed others.

23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.

All this have I proven by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was more than I could be.

24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

Wisdom is far off and very deep. Who can find it?

25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:

I turned my heart to learn and examine and seek wisdom and the explanations of reality, and to understand that evil is stupid and that folly is madness.

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

I found that more bitter than death is any woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:

“Consider what I have discovered,” says the Teacher. “I have been adding one discovery to another in order to find an explanation of reality.

28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

This is what I am still looking for, but I have not found it. I did find one righteous man among a thousand, but a woman among all those I did not find.

29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

I have discovered only this: That God created humanity upright, but they have gone away looking for many difficulties.”