Ecclesiastes 7
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1A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.3Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.5It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.6Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
12For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.12Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13Consider the work of God: Who can straighten what He has bent?13Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.14When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
15In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.15In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
16Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?16Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself?
17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?17Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time?
18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.18It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
19Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
21Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.21Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--
22For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"-- but this was beyond me.
24What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?24Whatever exists is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?
25I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.25So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.26I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
27“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.27"Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things--
28While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.28while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.
29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”29This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes."
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Ecclesiastes 6
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