Ecclesiastes 7

1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.

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

2 It's better to go to a funeral than to a party. In the end, everyone dies, and those who are still alive should think about it.

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.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.

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

4 Wise people think about the impact of death, while those who are fools only think about having a good time.

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

5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person 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 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorn twigs burning under a pot—without sense and quickly over.

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

7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.

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

8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.

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

9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.

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

10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.

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

11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.

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

12 For wisdom provides security, as does money, but the advantage for those who have wisdom is that they are kept safe and sound!

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.

13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!

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

14 On a good day, be happy. When a bad day comes, stop and think. God made each day, so you don't know what will happen to you next.

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.

15 Throughout my life I've seen so much that is hard to understand. Good people who die young despite doing what is right, and wicked people who live long evil lives.

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.

16 Don't think you can make yourself right by a lot of religious observance, and don't pretend to be so wise. Do you want to destroy yourself?

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

17 On the other hand, don't decide to live an evil life—don't be a fool! Why die before your time?

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

18 You ought to keep in mind these warnings. Those who follow God will be sure to avoid both.

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.

19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.

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

20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.

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

21 Don't take to heart everything that people say, otherwise you may hear your servant talking badly about you,

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

22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!

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

23 I have examined all this using the principles of wisdom. I told myself, “I will think wisely.” But wisdom eluded me.

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

24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?

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

25 I turned my thoughts to discover, investigate, and to find out more about wisdom and what makes sense. I wanted to know more about how stupid evil really is, and how ridiculous it is to be a fool.

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;

26 I discovered something more horrible than death: foolishness like a woman who tries to entrap you, who wants to use her mind and hands to catch you and tie you up. Those who follow God will not be caught, but sinners will fall into her trap.

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.

27 This is what I discovered after putting two and two together to try and find out what it all meant, says the Teacher.

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

28 Although I really searched, I didn't find what I was looking for. People say, “I found one man among a thousand, but not one woman.”

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.

29 But I did find this one thing: God made people to do what's right, but they have followed their own ideas.

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