Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 A good name is better than good ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.	1 What 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?
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.	2 A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser.	3 It 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.
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: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
5 It is better to hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to hearken to the song of fools;	5 The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the fool's laughter.	6 It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
7 For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe corrupts the heart.	7 For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
8 Better is the end of speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit.	8 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
9 Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.	9 Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
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.	10 Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
11 Wisdom and an inheritance are good, and an advantage to those that see the sun.	11 Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.
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.	12 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
13 Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?	13 For 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.
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.	14 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
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.	15 In 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.
16 "Be not just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.	16 These 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.
17 Be not wicked to excess, and be not foolish. Why should you die before your time?"	17 Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
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.	18 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
19 Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten princes in the city,	19 It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
20 yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never sin.	20 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
21 Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you,	21 For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
22 for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others.	22 But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
23 All these things I probed in wisdom. I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but it was beyond me.	23 For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
24 What exists is far-reaching; it is deep, very deep: who can find it out?	24 I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
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.	25 Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
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.	26 I 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:
27 Behold, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one thing to another that I might discover the answer	27 And 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.
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.	28 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
29 Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight, but men have had recourse to many calculations.	29 Which 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.
	30 Only 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?