Ecclesiastes 7

1What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?

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

2A good name is better than precious ointments: 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: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.

3It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.

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

4Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.

5The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.

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

6It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.

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

7For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.

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

8Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

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

9Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.

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

10Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.

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

11Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.

11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.

12Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.

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.

13For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.

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

14Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.

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.

15In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.

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.

16These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.

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

17Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

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

18Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

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.

19It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.

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

20Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

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

21For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

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

22But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.

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

23For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.

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

24I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,

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

25Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?

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;

26I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:

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.

27And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter's snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.

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

28Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,

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.

29Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.

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

30Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? and who hath known the resolution of the word?

30(not in this translation)