Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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?	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 A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.	2 A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
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.	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 Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.	4 Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5 The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.	5 The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6 It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.	6 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7 For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.	7 For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
8 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.	8 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9 Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.	9 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
10 Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.	10 Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
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.	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 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.	12 Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
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.	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 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.	14 Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
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.	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 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.	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 just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.	17 Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
18 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.	18 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
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.	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 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.	20 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21 For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.	21 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22 But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.	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 For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.	23 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24 I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,	24 I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
25 Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?	25 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal 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:	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 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.	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 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,	28 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
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.	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 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?	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?