Ecclesiastes 7

1 Better a name, than precious ointment, —and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.

A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

2 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.

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 should take this to heart.

3 Better is grief than laughter, —for, by the marring of the face, amended is the heart.

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

4 The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, 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 Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For, as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so, is the laughter of the dullard, —even this, then, was vanity.

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

7 For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, —and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.

Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

8 Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, —Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.

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

9 Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, —for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.

Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

11 Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, —and a profit, to such as see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

12 For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, —but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.

For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

13 Consider the work of God, —for who can straighten what he hath bent?

Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?

14 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.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

15 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.

All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

16 Do not become so very righteous, neither count thyself wise beyond measure, —wherefore shouldst thou destroy thyself?

Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

17 Do not be so very lawless, neither become thou foolish, —wherefore shouldst thou die, before thy time?

Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

18 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.

It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

19 Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.

21 Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, —lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!

Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

22 For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, —that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

23 All this, have I proved by wisdom, —I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.

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

24 Far away, is that which hath been, —and deep, deep, who can find it out?

That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

25 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.

I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

26 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.

I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

27 See! this, have I found, saith the Proclaimer [counting] one by one, to find a conclusion;

“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation

28 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.

which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man amongst a thousand, but I have not found a woman amongst all those.

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

Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”