Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Better a good name than costly oil, the day of death than the day of birth.	1 Better a good name than costly oil, the day of death than the day of birth.
2 Better go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting; for to this end everyone comes, let theliving take this to heart.	2 Better go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting; for to this end everyone comes, let theliving take this to heart.
3 Better sadness than laughter: a joyful heart may be concealed behind sad looks.	3 Better sadness than laughter: a joyful heart may be concealed behind sad looks.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, the heart of fools in the house of gaiety.	4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, the heart of fools in the house of gaiety.
5 Better attend to the reprimand of the wise than listen to a song sung by a fool.	5 Better attend to the reprimand of the wise than listen to a song sung by a fool.
6 For like the crackling of thorns under the cauldron is the laughter of fools: and that too is futile.	6 For like the crackling of thorns under the cauldron is the laughter of fools: and that too is futile.
7 But being oppressed drives a sage mad, and a present corrupts the heart.	7 But being oppressed drives a sage mad, and a present corrupts the heart.
8 Better the end of a matter than its beginning, better patience than ambition.	8 Better the end of a matter than its beginning, better patience than ambition.
9 Do not be too easily exasperated, for exasperation dwel s in the heart of fools.	9 Do not be too easily exasperated, for exasperation dwel s in the heart of fools.
10 Do not ask why the past was better than the present, for this is not a question prompted by wisdom.	10 Do not ask why the past was better than the present, for this is not a question prompted by wisdom.
11 Wisdom is as good as a legacy, profitable to those who enjoy the light of the sun.	11 Wisdom is as good as a legacy, profitable to those who enjoy the light of the sun.
12 For as money protects, so does wisdom, and the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom bestowslife on those who possess her.	12 For as money protects, so does wisdom, and the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom bestowslife on those who possess her.
13 Consider God's creation: who, for instance, can straighten what God has bent?	13 Consider God's creation: who, for instance, can straighten what God has bent?
14 When things are going wel , enjoy yourself, and when they are going badly, consider this: God hasdesigned the one no less than the other so that we should take nothing for granted.	14 When things are going wel , enjoy yourself, and when they are going badly, consider this: God hasdesigned the one no less than the other so that we should take nothing for granted.
15 In my futile life, I have seen everything: the upright person perishing in uprightness and the wickedperson surviving in wickedness.	15 In my futile life, I have seen everything: the upright person perishing in uprightness and the wickedperson surviving in wickedness.
16 Do not be upright to excess and do not make yourself unduly wise: why should you destroy yourself?	16 Do not be upright to excess and do not make yourself unduly wise: why should you destroy yourself?
17 Do not be wicked to excess, and do not be a fool: why die before your time?	17 Do not be wicked to excess, and do not be a fool: why die before your time?
18 It is wise to hold on to one and not let go of the other, since the godfearing wil find both.	18 It is wise to hold on to one and not let go of the other, since the godfearing wil find both.
19 Wisdom makes the wise stronger than a dozen governors in a city.	19 Wisdom makes the wise stronger than a dozen governors in a city.
20 No one on earth is sufficiently upright to do good without ever sinning.	20 No one on earth is sufficiently upright to do good without ever sinning.
21 Again, do not listen to all that people say, then you wil not hear your servant abusing you.	21 Again, do not listen to all that people say, then you wil not hear your servant abusing you.
22 For often, as you very wel know, you have abused others.	22 For often, as you very wel know, you have abused others.
23 Thanks to wisdom, I have found all this to be true; I resolved to be wise, but this was beyond myreach!	23 Thanks to wisdom, I have found all this to be true; I resolved to be wise, but this was beyond myreach!
24 The past is out of reach, buried deep -- who can discover it?	24 The past is out of reach, buried deep -- who can discover it?
25 But I have reached the point where, having learnt, explored and investigated wisdom and reflection, Irecognise evil as being a form of madness, and fol y as something stupid.	25 But I have reached the point where, having learnt, explored and investigated wisdom and reflection, Irecognise evil as being a form of madness, and fol y as something stupid.
26 And I find woman more bitter than Death, she is a snare, her heart is a net, and her arms are chains.The man who is pleasing to God eludes her, but the sinner is captured by her.	26 And I find woman more bitter than Death, she is a snare, her heart is a net, and her arms are chains.The man who is pleasing to God eludes her, but the sinner is captured by her.
27 This is what I think, says Qoheleth, having examined one thing after another to draw some conclusion,	27 This is what I think, says Qoheleth, having examined one thing after another to draw some conclusion,
28 which I am still looking for, although unsuccessful y: one man in a thousand, I may find, but a womanbetter than other women-never.	28 which I am still looking for, although unsuccessful y: one man in a thousand, I may find, but a womanbetter than other women-never.
29 This alone is my conclusion: God has created man straightforward, and human artifices are humaninventions.	29 This alone is my conclusion: God has created man straightforward, and human artifices are humaninventions.