Ecclesiastes 7

1 A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his birth.

2 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.

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 heart.

3 Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

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

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 for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song 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 under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool. This also is vanity.

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

Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.

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

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

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Say not, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for them that see the sun.

12 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.

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?

14 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.

In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.

15 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.

All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.

16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?

18 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.

It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.

21 Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!

22 For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.

23 All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

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

24 Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 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;

I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.

26 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.

And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27 See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;

Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.

28 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.

That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.

29 Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

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