Ecclesiastes 7

1 Better a name, than precious ointment, —and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.

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

2 Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of banqueting, for, that, is the end of all men, —and, the living, should take it to his heart.

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.

3 Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

4 The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, 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 mirth.

5 Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,

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

6 For, as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so, is the laughter of the dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.

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

7 For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.

Surely extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.

8 Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.

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

9 Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.

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

10 Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.

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

11 Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.

12 For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, —but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.

For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

13 Consider the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?

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

14 In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but, in the day of misfortune, consider, —Even the one equally with the other, hath God made, to the end man might find out—after him—nothing.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing [that shall be] after him.

15 Everything, had I seen, in my days of vanity, —Here was a righteous man, perishing in his righteousness, and there was a lawless man, continuing long in his wickedness.

All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.

16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?

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

17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?

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

18 It is well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, —for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.

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

19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city.

20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!

Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22 For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.

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

23 All this, have I proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.

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

24 Far away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can find it out?

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

25 Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion, —and to know lawlessness [to be] stupidity, and folly to be madness.

I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness:

26 I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, —whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her.

And I find a thing more bitter than death, [even] 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.

27 See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;

Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher; [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account:

28 what my soul still sought, yet I found not, —one man out of a thousand, have I found, but, a woman among all these, have I not found.

which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 Only, see, this, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.

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