Qoelet 7

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.	1 A good name is better than good ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii; in illa enim finis cunctorum hominum, et vivens hoc conferet in corde.	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.
3 Melior est tristitia risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus.	3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser.
4 Cor sapientium in domo luctus, et cor stultorum in domo laetitiae.	4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 Melius est a sapiente corripi quam laetari stultorum canticis,	5 It is better to hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to hearken to the song of fools;
6 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.	6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the fool's laughter.
7 Quia calumnia stultum facit sapientem, et munus cor insanire facit.	7 For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 “ Melior est finis negotii quam principium, melior est patiens arrogante ”.	8 Better is the end of speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit.
9 Ne sis velox in animo ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.	9 Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.
10 Nedicas: “Quid, putas, causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nuncsunt? ”. Non enim ex sapientia interrogas de hoc.	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.
11 Bona est sapientia cumdivitiis et prodest videntibus solem.	11 Wisdom and an inheritance are good, and an advantage to those that see the sun.
12 Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sicprotegit pecunia; hoc autem plus habet eruditio, quod sapientia vitam tribuitpossessori suo.	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.
13 Considera opera Dei: quod nemo possit corrigere, quod illecurvum fecerit.	13 Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In die bona fruere bonis et in die mala considera: sicuthanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ita ut non inveniat homo quidquam de futuro.	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.
15 Cuncta vidi in diebus vanitatis meae: est iustus, qui perit in iustitia sua,et impius, qui multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.	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.
16 Noli esse nimis iustus neque sapiens supra modum! Cur te perdere vis?	16 "Be not just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.
17 Ne agas nimis impie et noli esse stultus! Cur mori debeas in tempore non tuo?	17 Be not wicked to excess, and be not foolish. Why should you die before your time?"
18 Bonum est ut, quod habes, teneas, sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam,quia qui timet Deum, utrumque devitat.	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.
19 Sapientia confortabit sapientem superdecem principes civitatis.	19 Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten princes in the city,
20 Nullus enim homo iustus in terra, qui faciat bonumet non peccet.	20 yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never sin.
21 Sed et cunctis sermonibus, qui dicuntur, ne accommodes cortuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;	21 Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you,
22 scit enim conscientiatua, quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.	22 for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others.
23 Cuncta tentavi in sapientia, dixi: “ Sapiens efficiar ”.	23 All these things I probed in wisdom. I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but it was beyond me.
24 Et ipsalongius recessit a me. Longe est, quod fuit; et alta est profunditas. Quisinveniet eam?	24 What exists is far-reaching; it is deep, very deep: who can find it out?
25 Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem et quaereremsapientiam et rationem et ut cognoscerem impietatem esse stultitiam et erroremimprudentiam.	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.
26 Et invenio amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus venatorumest, et sagena cor eius, vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo, effugieteam; qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa.	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.
27 Ecce hoc inveni, dixitEcclesiastes, unum et alterum, ut invenirem rationem,	27 Behold, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one thing to another that I might discover the answer
28 quam adhuc quaeritanima mea, et non inveni: Hominem de mille unum repperi, mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.	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.
29 Ecce solummodo hoc inveni: Quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipsi quaesierint infinitas quaestiones.	29 Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight, but men have had recourse to many calculations.