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 precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's 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 house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] 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 is 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 the rebuke of the wise, 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.

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

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

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

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

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

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

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth 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 thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely 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 [by it there is] profit 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 [is] a defense, [and] money [is] a defense: but the excellence of knowledge [is], [that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

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

Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath 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 be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end 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.

All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] 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 righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?

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

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy 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] good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.

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

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] who 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 just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

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 words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

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

For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

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

All this have I proved by 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 off, and exceedingly deep, who can 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 applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:

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 more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoever pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken 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, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, 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 yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I 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?

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