Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.

A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.

[It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good [warning] to his heart.

3 Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.

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

4 The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.

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

5 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.

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

6 For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.

As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

7 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.

for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

8 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

9 Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.

Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

10 You should not say: “What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?” For this type of question is foolish.

Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for you do not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

11 Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.

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

12 For as wisdom protects, so also does money protect. But learning and wisdom have this much more: that they grant life to one who possesses them.

For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

13 Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.

Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

14 In good times, enjoy good things, but beware of an evil time. For just as God has established the one, so also the other, in order that man may not find any just complaint against him.

In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, [I say], God also has caused the one to agree with the other for [this] reason, that man should find nothing after him.

15 I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.

I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

16 Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.

Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest you be confounded.

17 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.

Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest you should die before your time.

18 It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.

It is well for you to hold fast by this; also by this defile not your hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

19 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.

Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.

For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

21 So then, do not attach your heart to every word that is spoken, lest perhaps you may hear your servant speaking ill of you.

Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest you hear your servant cursing you.

22 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.

For many times he shall trespass against you, and repeatedly shall he afflict your heart; for thus also have you cursed others.

23 I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,

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

24 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?

[That which is] far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 I have examined all things in my soul, so that I may know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason, and so that I may recognize the impiety of the foolish, and the error of the imprudent.

I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account [of things], and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

26 And I have discovered a woman more bitter than death: she who is like the snare of a hunter, and whose heart is like a net, and whose hands are like chains. Whoever pleases God shall flee from her. But whoever is a sinner shall be seized by her.

And I find her [to be], and I will pronounce [to be] more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, [who has] a band in her hands: [he that is] good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation

Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, [seeking] by one at a time to find out the account,

28 which my soul still seeks and has not found. One man among a thousand, I have found; a woman among them all, I have not found.

which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.

29 This alone have I discovered: that God made man righteous, and yet he has adulterated himself with innumerable questions. Who is so great as the wise? And who has understood the meaning of the word?

But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.