Ecclesiastes 7
1 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
Better a name, 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.
Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of banqueting, for, that, is the end of all men, —and, the living, should take it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for tragedy helps us by making us think.
Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.
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 dullards, in the house of mirth.
5 It's better to listen to criticism from a wise person than to hear the song of fools.
Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,
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 dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.
7 Extorting money from others makes wise people into fools, and accepting bribes corrupts the mind.
For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
8 Completing something is better than starting it. Being patient is better than being proud.
Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.
9 Don't be quick to get angry, for anger controls the minds of fools.
Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.
10 Don't ask, “Why were the good old days better than now?” Asking such questions shows you are not wise.
Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good—it's like receiving an inheritance. It benefits everyone in life.
Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as 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, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, —but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.
13 Think about what God does. If he makes something bent, you can't straighten it!
Consider the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?
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, be joyful, but, in the day of misfortune, consider, —Even the one equally with the other, hath God made, to the end man might find out—after him—nothing.
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.
Everything, had I seen, in my days of vanity, —Here was a righteous man, perishing in his righteousness, and there was a lawless man, continuing long in 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?
Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst 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?
Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst 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 well that thou shouldst lay fast hold of this, but, even from the other, do not withdraw thy hand, —for, he that revereth God, shall come forth out of them all.
19 Wisdom gives a wise person greater power than ten town councilors.
Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.
20 There's not one good person in all the world who always does what is right and never sins.
For, as for men, there is none righteous in the 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,
Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!
22 for you know how many times you yourself have talked badly about others!
For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled 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 proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.
24 Everything that exists is beyond our grasp—too deep for our understanding. Who can comprehend it?
Far away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can 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.
Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion, —and to know lawlessness [to be] stupidity, and folly 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.
I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, —whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured 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, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;
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.”
what my soul still sought, yet I found not, —one man out of a thousand, have I found, but, a woman among all these, 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, have I found, That God made man upright, but, they, have sought out many devices.
