ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΗΣ - Qoelet - Ecclesiastes 7

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Καλλιον ονομα καλον παρα πολυτιμον μυρον? και η ημερα του θανατου παρα την ημεραν της γεννησεως.	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 Καλλιον να υπαγη τις εις οικον πενθους, παρα να υπαγη εις οικον συμποσιου? διοτι τουτο ειναι το τελος παντος ανθρωπου, και ο ζων θελει βαλει αυτο εις την καρδιαν αυτου.	2 A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3 Καλλιον η λυπη παρα τον γελωτα? διοτι εκ της σκυθρωποτητος του προσωπου η καρδια γινεται φαιδροτερα.	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 Η καρδια των σοφων ειναι εν οικω πενθους? αλλ' η καρδια των αφρονων εν οικω ευφροσυνης.	4 Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5 Καλλιον εις τον ανθρωπον να ακουη επιπληξιν σοφου, παρα να ακουη ασμα αφρονων?	5 The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6 διοτι καθως ειναι ο ηχος των ακανθων υποκατω του λεβητος, ουτως ο γελως του αφρονος και τουτο ματαιοτης.	6 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7 Βεβαιως η καταδυναστεια παραλογιζει τον σοφον? και το δωρον διαφθειρει την καρδιαν.	7 For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
8 Καλλιον το τελος του πραγματος παρα την αρχην αυτου? καλητερος ο μακροθυμος παρα τον υψηλοφρονα.	8 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9 Μη σπευδε εν τω πνευματι σου να θυμονης? διοτι ο θυμος αναπαυεται εν τω κολπω των αφρονων.	9 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
10 Μη ειπης, Τις η αιτια, δια την οποιαν αι παρελθουσαι ημεραι ησαν καλητεραι παρα ταυτας; διοτι δεν ερωτας φρονιμως περι τουτου.	10 Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11 Η σοφια ειναι καλη ως η κληρονομια, και ωφελιμος εις τους βλεποντας τον ηλιον.	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 Διοτι η σοφια ειναι σκεπη, ως ειναι σκεπη το αργυριον? πλην η υπεροχη της γνωσεως ειναι, οτι η σοφια ζωοποιει τους εχοντας αυτην.	12 Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
13 Θεωρει το εργον του Θεου? διοτι τις δυναται να καμη ευθες εκεινο, το οποιον αυτος εκαμε στρεβλον;	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 Εν ημερα ευτυχιας ευφραινου, εν δε ημερα δυστυχιας σκεπτου? διοτι ο Θεος εκαμε το εν αντιστιχον του αλλου, δια να μη ευρισκη ο ανθρωπος μηδεν οπισω αυτου.	14 Consider the works of God, that no one is able to correct whomever he has despised.
15 Τα παντα ειδον εν ταις ημεραις της ματαιοτητος μου? υπαρχει δικαιος, οστις αφανιζεται εν τη δικαιοσυνη αυτου? και υπαρχει ασεβης, οστις μακροημερευει εν τη κακια αυτου.	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 Μη γινου δικαιος παραπολυ, και μη φρονει σεαυτον υπερμετρα σοφον? δια τι να αφανισθης;	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 Μη γινου κακος παραπολυ, και μη εσο αφρων? δια τι να αποθανης προ του καιρου σου;	17 Do not try to be overly just, and do not try to be more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
18 Ειναι καλον να κρατης τουτο, απο δε εκεινου να μη αποσυρης την χειρα σου? διοτι ο φοβουμενος τον Θεον θελει εκφυγει παντα ταυτα.	18 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
19 Η σοφια ενδυναμονει τον σοφον περισσοτερον παρα δεκα εξουσιαζοντες, οιτινες ειναι εν τη πολει.	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 Διοτι δεν υπαρχει ανθρωπος δικαιος επι της γης, οστις να πραττη το καλον και να μη αμαρτανη.	20 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21 Προσετι, μη δωσης την προσοχην σου εις παντας τους λογους οσοι λεγονται? μηποτε ακουσης τον δουλον σου καταρωμενον σε?	21 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22 διοτι πολλακις και η καρδια σου γνωριζει οτι και συ παρομοιως κατηρασθης αλλους.	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 Παντα ταυτα εδοκιμασα δια της σοφιας? ειπα, Θελω γεινει σοφος? αλλ' αυτη απεμακρυνθη απ' εμου.	23 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24 Ο, τι ειναι πολυ μακραν και εις ακρον βαρυ, τις δυναται να ευρη τουτο;	24 I have tested everything in wisdom. I have said: “I will be wise.” And wisdom withdrew farther from me,
25 Εγω περιηλθον εν τη καρδια μου δια να μαθω και να ανιχνευσω, και να εκζητησω σοφιαν και τον λογον των πραγματων, και να γνωρισω την ασεβειαν της αφροσυνης και την ηλιθιοτητα της ανοησιας.	25 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
26 Και ευρον οτι πικροτερα ειναι παρα θανατον η γυνη, της οποιας η καρδια ειναι παγιδες και δικτυα και αι χειρες αυτης δεσμα? ο αρεστος ενωπιον του Θεου θελει εκφυγει απ' αυτης? ο δε αμαρτωλος θελει συλληφθη εν αυτη.	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 Ιδε, τουτο ευρηκα, λεγει ο Εκκλησιαστης, εξεταζων εν προς εν, δια να ευρω τον λογον?	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 τον οποιον ετι η ψυχη μου εκζητει αλλα δεν ευρισκω? ανδρα ενα μεταξυ χιλιων ευρηκα? γυναικα ομως μιαν μεταξυ πασων τουτων δεν ευρηκα.	28 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
29 Ιδου, τουτο μονον ευρηκα? οτι ο Θεος εκαμε τον ανθρωπον ευθυν, αλλ' αυτοι επεζητησαν λογισμους πολλους.	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?