Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death 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: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
3 Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than 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 oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable 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 is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
14 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.
In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
16 Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 Bonum est te sustentare justum: sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
20 non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
22 scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
All this have I tried 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?]
Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
25 [Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor ejus; vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo effugiet illam; qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa.
and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?]
Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
