Ecclesiastes 7
1Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
2A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3It 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.
4Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
8A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
10Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11You 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.
12Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
13For 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.
14Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
15In 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.
16I 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.
17Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
18Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
19It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.
20Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22So then, do not attach your heart to every word that is spoken, lest perhaps you may hear your servant speaking ill of you.
23For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
25so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
26I 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.
27And 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.
28Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
29which 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.
30This 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?
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2It 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.
3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14In 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.
15All 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.
16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25I applied mine 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:
26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28Which 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.
29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.