Ecclesiastes 7
1 Melius est nomen bonum, quam unguenta pretiosa: et dies mortis die nativitatis.
A good name is betere than preciouse oynementis; and the dai of deth is betere than the dai of birthe.
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 betere to go to the hous of morenyng, than to the hous of a feeste; for in that hous `of morenyng the ende of alle men is monestid, and a man lyuynge thenkith, what is to comynge.
3 Melior est ira risu: quia per tristitiam vultus, corrigitur animus delinquentis.
Yre is betere than leiyyng; for the soule of a trespassour is amendid bi the heuynesse of cheer.
4 Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
The herte of wise men is where sorewe is; and the herte of foolis is where gladnesse is.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi.
It is betere to be repreued of a wijs man, than to be disseyued bi the flateryng of foolis;
6 Quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti: sed et hoc vanitas.
for as the sown of thornes brennynge vndur a pot, so is the leiyyng of a fool. But also this is vanyte.
7 Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
Fals chalenge disturblith a wijs man, and it schal leese the strengthe of his herte.
8 Melior est finis orationis, quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
Forsothe the ende of preyer is betere than the bigynnyng. A pacient man is betere than a proud man.
9 Ne sis velox ad irascendum: quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
Be thou not swift to be wrooth; for ire restith in the bosum of a fool.
10 Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? Stulta enim est huiuscemodi interrogatio.
Seie thou not, What gessist thou is of cause, that the formere tymes weren betere than ben now? for whi siche axyng is fonned.
11 Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
Forsothe wisdom with richessis is more profitable, and profitith more to men seynge the sunne.
12 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia. Hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
For as wisdom defendith, so money defendith; but lernyng and wisdom hath this more, that tho yyuen lijf to `her weldere.
13 Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
Biholde thou the werkis of God, that no man may amende hym, whom God hath dispisid.
14 In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave. Sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias.
In a good day vse thou goodis, and bifore eschewe thou an yuel day; for God made so this dai as that dai, that a man fynde not iust playnyngis ayens hym.
15 Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: Iustus perit in iustitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
Also Y siy these thingis in the daies of my natyuyte; a iust man perischith in his riytfulnesse, and a wickid man lyueth myche tyme in his malice.
16 Noli esse iustus multum: neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
Nyle thou be iust myche, nether vndurstonde thou more than is nedeful; lest thou be astonyed.
17 Ne impie agas multum: et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
Do thou not wickidli myche, and nyle thou be a fool; lest thou die in a tyme not thin.
18 Bonum est te sustentare iustum, sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam: quia qui timet Deum, nihil negligit.
It is good, that thou susteyne a iust man; but also withdrawe thou not thin hond from hym; for he that dredith God, is not necligent of ony thing.
19 Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis.
Wisdom hath coumfortid a wise man, ouer ten pryncis of a citee.
20 Non est enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonum, et non peccet.
Forsothe no iust man is in erthe, that doith good, and synneth not.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accomodes cor tuum: ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi.
But also yyue thou not thin herte to alle wordis, that ben seid; lest perauenture thou here thi seruaunt cursynge thee;
22 Scit enim conscientia tua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
for thi conscience woot, that also thou hast cursid ofte othere men.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me
I asayede alle thingis in wisdom; Y seide, I schal be maad wijs, and it yede awei ferthere fro me, myche more than it was;
24 multo magis quam erat: et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
and the depthe is hiy, who schal fynde it?
25 Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem, et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem: et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
I cumpasside alle thingis in my soule, to kunne, and biholde, and seke wisdom and resoun, and to knowe the wickidnesse of a fool, and the errour of vnprudent men.
26 et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo, effugiet illam: qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.
And Y foond a womman bitterere than deth, which is the snare of hunteris, and hir herte is a net, and hir hondis ben boondis; he that plesith God schal ascape hir, but he that is a synnere, schal be takun of hir.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,
Lo! Y foond this, seide Ecclesiastes, oon and other, that Y schulde fynde resoun, which my soule sekith yit;
28 quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
and Y foond not. I foond o man of a thousynde; Y foond not a womman of alle.
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?
I foond this oonli, that God made a man riytful; and he medlide hym silf with questiouns with out noumbre. Who is siche as a wijs man? and who knowith the expownyng of a word?
