Ecclesiastes, 7

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

1. An honorable name is better than perfumed oil. Better the day of death than the day of birth.

2. [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 his heart.

2. Better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for to this end all come, and let the living take this to heart:

3. Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

3. Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad face brings healing to the soul.

4. The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

4. The heart of the wise man is in the house of mourning, while the heart of the fool is in the house of feasting.

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

5. Better to heed the rebuke of a wise man than to listen to a fool's song.

6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

6. Like the crackling of thorns under a pot is the fool's laugh.

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

7. Oppression makes a wise man mad, but a bribe corrupts his heart.

8. Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

8. Better to reach the end than to begin. Better patience than a haughty spirit.

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

9. Don't be easily dejected, for dejection resides in the womb of fools.

10. Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

10. Do not ask why former times were better than the present. It is not wisdom that prompts such a question.

11. Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.

11. Wisdom is as precious as an inheritance; it is a blessing for those on whom the sun shines.

12. For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

12. If wisdom protects you, money will do the same. This is the benefit of acquiring wisdom: it makes its owner live.

13. Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?

13. See the work of God. Who can straighten what he has bent?

14. In 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.

14. Be happy in the day of prosperity and in the day of sorrow reflect:

15. All [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.

15. God has given both one and the other and many may discover what comes later.

16. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

16. Do not be over-righteous or excessively wise, lest you harm yourself.

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

17. Do not be too wicked or too stupid, lest you die before your time.

18. [It 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.

18. It is well to hold to one and not to loosen your grasp on the other. The God-fearing man copes with both.

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

19. Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in the city.

20. For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

20. There is no righteous man on earth who always does good and never sins.

21. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

21. Don't take seriously all that you hear, lest you hear your servant speak ill of you.

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

22. You know well how many times you have spoken ill of others!

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

23. After having examined all this critically I said, "I will be wise!"

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

24. But how far it is from me! more remote than anything, and deep, very deep. Who could discover it?

25. I 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:

25. I set myself in all earnestness to know, study and pursue wisdom and reason, so I saw that wickedness is folly, and foolishness, stupidity.

26. And 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.

26. I find woman more bitter than death. She is a pitfall; her heart is a snare and her arms, chains. He who pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be caught.

27. Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:

27. See what I discovered - says the Teacher - after considering them one after another, anxious to understand.

28. Which 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.

28. I have been searching but have not yet found; for a man among a thousand I may find, but not a woman among all of them.

29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

29. See what I discovered: God made man simple, but they get lost in their many thoughts.