Ecclesiastes/Qohelet 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 A good name is better than good ointment, and the day of death than the day of 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 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 a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser.	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 hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to hearken to 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 fool's laughter.	6 It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7 For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe corrupts 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 speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit.	8 A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9 Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.	9 The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
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 Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11 Wisdom and an inheritance are good, and an advantage to those 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 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 useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.
13 Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has 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 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 one is able to correct whomever he has 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 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 just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.	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 wicked to excess, and be not foolish. Why should you die before your 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 to hold to this rule, and not to let that one go; but he who fears God will win through at all events.	18 Do not act with great impiety, and do not choose to be foolish, lest you die before your time.
19 Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten princes 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 yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never sin.	20 Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of a city.
21 Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you,	21 But there is no just man on earth, who does good and does not sin.
22 for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of 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 these things I probed in wisdom. I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but it was beyond me.	23 For your conscience knows that you, too, have repeatedly spoken evil of others.
24 What exists is far-reaching; it is deep, very 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 turned my thoughts toward knowledge; I sought and pursued wisdom and reason, and I recognized that wickedness is foolish and folly is madness.	25 so much more than it was before. Wisdom is very profound, so who shall reveal her?
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 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, says Qoheleth, adding one thing to another that I might discover the answer	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 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 Behold, Ecclesiastes said, I have discovered these things, one after another, in order that I might discover the explanation
29 Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight, but men have had recourse to many calculations.	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?