Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.	1 Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
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 A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.	3 It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.	4 Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.	5 The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.	6 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.	7 For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
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 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.	9 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
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 be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.	11 You should not say: “What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?” For this type of question is foolish.
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 Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?	13 For as wisdom protects, so also does money protect. But learning and wisdom have this much more: that they grant life to one who possesses them.
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 Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
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 In good times, enjoy good things, but beware of an evil time. For just as God has establish the one, so also the other, in order that man may not find any just complaint against him.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?	16 I also saw this, in the days of my vanity: a just man perishing in his justice, and an impious man living a long time in his malice.
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?	17 Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
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 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.	19 It is good for you to support a just man. Furthermore, you should not withdraw your hand from him, for whoever fears God, neglects nothing.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.	20 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:	21 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.	22 So then, do not attach your heart to every word that is spoken, lest perhaps you may hear your servant speaking ill of you.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.	23 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?	24 I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
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 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
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 I have examined all things in my soul, so that I may know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason, and so that I may recognize the impiety of the foolish, and the error of the imprudent.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:	27 And I have discovered a woman more bitter than death: she who is like the snare of a hunter, and whose heart is like a net, and whose hands are like chains. Whoever pleases God shall flee from her. But whoever is a sinner shall be seized by her.
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 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.	29 which my soul still seeks and has not found. One man among a thousand, I have found; a woman among them all, I have not found.
	30 This alone have I discovered: that God made man righteous, and yet he has adulterated himself with innumerable questions. Who is so great as the wise? And who has understood the meaning of the word?