Ecclesiastes 7

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

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

1Agoodname is better than precious oil; 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.

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.

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.

3Better <FI>is<Fi> sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

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

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

4The heart of the wise <FI>is<Fi> in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

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

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

5Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than <FI>for<Fi> a man to hear a song of fools,

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

10Say not thou, `What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

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

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

11Wisdom <FI>is<Fi> good with an inheritance, And an advantage <FI>it is<Fi> to those beholding the sun.

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

11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

16Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23All this have I tried 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.

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

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

24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can 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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

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.

27See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason

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

27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to 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.

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.

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.

29See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they--they have sought out many devices.

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

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