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Ecclesiastes 7
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1Agoodname is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.
1A good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you are born.
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.
2It is better to go to a funeral than to go to a party, because death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face can improve the heart.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
4The heart of a wise person thinks about mourning, but the heart of a fool thinks only about having fun.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
5It is better to be corrected by a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
6The laughter of a fool is like the sound of thorns crackling under a cooking pot; it is completely useless.
7Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe ruins the character.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
9Don't be quick to get angry, because anger lives in the hearts of fools.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
10Do not ask, 'Why were the old days better than today?' because it is not wise to ask such a question.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance and even more profitable for those who are alive.
12For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
12Wisdom provides protection just as money provides protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of the person who has it.
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
13Look at what God has done: who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything that shall be after him.
14When things are going well, be happy; but when times are hard, consider this: God has made both types of days so that no one can discover what will happen in the future.
15All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.
15I have seen everything in my meaningless life: a righteous person who dies despite being good, and a wicked person who lives a long time despite being evil.
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
16Do not be overly righteous or pretend to be too wise; why should you destroy yourself?
17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
17Do not be overly wicked and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
18It is good to grasp the one thing and not let go of the other; whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
19Wisdom makes a wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
20There is certainly no one on earth so righteous that they always do what is right and never sin.
21Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
21Do not pay attention to everything people say, or you might hear your own servant cursing you.
22for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22You know in your own heart that you have cursed others many times yourself.
23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
23I tested all of this with wisdom. I said, 'I will be wise,' but wisdom was far away from me.
24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
24The truth is far off and very deep; who can possibly discover it?
25I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
25I turned my mind to study and explore, searching for wisdom and the reason for things, and to understand that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
26I find that more bitter than death is the woman who is a trap, whose heart is a net and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be caught by her.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;
27'Look,' says the Teacher, 'this is what I discovered by adding one thing to another to find an answer.'