Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s 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 should take this to heart.

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

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 where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.

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 be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.

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

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

7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.

9 Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.

10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.

12 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.

For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.

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

Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.

14 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.

In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.

15 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.

These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

16 Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

17 Do not be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

18 It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also do not withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.

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

Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.

For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

21 Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.

22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.

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

I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,

24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 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.

I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:

26 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.

And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.

27 “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation

Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,

28 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.

Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.

29 Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”

Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? and who hath known the resolution of the word?