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?

1Better <FI>is<Fi> a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.

2A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth <FI>it<Fi> unto his 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.

3Better <FI>is<Fi> sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh 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 <FI>is<Fi> in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

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

5Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than <FI>for<Fi> a man to hear a 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 noise of thorns under the pot, So <FI>is<Fi> the laughter of a fool, even this <FI>is<Fi> 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 the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.

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

8Better <FI>is<Fi> the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better <FI>is<Fi> the patient of spirit, than the haughty of 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 angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.

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

10Say not thou, `What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of 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 <FI>is<Fi> good with an inheritance, And an advantage <FI>it is<Fi> to those beholding the sun.

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

12For wisdom <FI>is<Fi> a defense, money <FI>is<Fi> a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom <FI>is<Fi> , She reviveth her possessors.

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.

13See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

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

14In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything 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.

15The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging <FI>himself<Fi> in his wrong.

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 over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

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

17Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

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

18<FI> It is<Fi> good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with 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.

19The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

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

20Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

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

21Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

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

22For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

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

23All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it <FI>is<Fi> far from me.

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

24Far off <FI>is<Fi> that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?

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

25I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the 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 am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart <FI>is<Fi> nets and snares, her hands <FI>are<Fi> bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured 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 I have found, said the Preacher, one to 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,

28(that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have 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.

29See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they--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)