Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.	1 A good name is better than good ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It 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.	2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, For that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.	3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.	4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.	5 It is better to hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to hearken to the song of fools;
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.	6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the fool's laughter.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.	7 For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.	8 Better is the end of speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.	9 Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.	10 Do not say: How is it that former times were better than these? For it is not in wisdom that you ask about this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.	11 Wisdom and an inheritance are good, and an advantage to those that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.	12 For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?	13 Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.	14 On a good day enjoy good things, and on an evil day consider: Both the one and the other God has made, so that man cannot find fault with him in anything.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.	15 I have seen all manner of things in my vain days: a just man perishing in his justice, and a wicked one surviving in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?	16 "Be not just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?	17 Be not wicked to excess, and be not foolish. Why should you die before your time?"
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.	18 It is good to hold to this rule, and not to let that one go; but he who fears God will win through at all events.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.	19 Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten princes in the city,
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.	20 yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never sin.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:	21 Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you,
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.	22 for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.	23 All these things I probed in wisdom. I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but it was beyond me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?	24 What exists is far-reaching; it is deep, very deep: who can find it out?
25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:	25 I turned my thoughts toward knowledge; I sought and pursued wisdom and reason, and I recognized that wickedness is foolish and folly is madness.
26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.	26 More bitter than death I find the woman who is a hunter's trap, whose heart is a snare and whose hands are prison bonds. He who is pleasing to God will escape her, but the sinner will be entrapped by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:	27 Behold, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one thing to another that I might discover the answer
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.	28 which my soul still seeks and has not found: One man out of a thousand have I come upon, but a woman among them all I have not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.	29 Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight, but men have had recourse to many calculations.