Ecclesiastes 7

1A good name is better than oil of great price, and the day of death than the day of birth.

1Agoodname is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth.

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 weeping, than to go to the house of feasting; because that is the end of every man, and the living will take it to their hearts.

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 the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.

3Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.

3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

3Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4The hearts of the wise are in the house of weeping; but the hearts of the foolish are in the house of joy.

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 the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.

5It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.

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

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

6Like the cracking of thorns under a pot, so is the laugh of a foolish man; and this again is to no purpose.

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

6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

7The wise are troubled by the ways of the cruel, and the giving of money is the destruction of the heart.

7Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

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

8The end of a thing is better than its start, and a gentle spirit is better than pride.

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

8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.

9Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish.

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

9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.

10Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom.

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

10Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11Wisdom together with a heritage is good, and a profit to those who see the sun.

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 profitable to them that see the sun.

12Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.

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.

12For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

13Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent?

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

13Consider the work ofGod; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

14In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be after him.

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.

14In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider:God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.

15These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.

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.

15All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.

16Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time?

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

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

18It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.

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 that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that fearethGod cometh forth from them all.

19Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town.

19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

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

20There is no man on earth of such righteousness that he does good and is free from sin all his days.

20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

21Do not give ear to all the words which men say, for fear of hearing the curses of your servant.

21Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

21Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

22Your heart has knowledge how frequently others have been cursed by you.

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

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

23All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

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

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

24Far off is true existence, and very deep; who may have knowledge of it?

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

24Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

25I gave my mind to knowledge and to searching for wisdom and the reason of things, and to the discovery that sin is foolish, and that to be foolish is to be without one's senses.

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, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26And I saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

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.

26and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleasethGod shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27Look! this I have seen, said the Preacher, taking one thing after another to get the true account,

27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;

27See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;

28For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen.

28which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

28which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.

29This only have I seen, that God made men upright, but they have been searching out all sorts of inventions.

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

29Only see this which I have found: thatGod made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.