7 If people respect you as a good person,
that is better than expensive perfume.
The day of your death is better than the day of your birth.
2 If you go to a house where there is a funeral,
that is better for you than to go to a party.
Everyone will die one day.
People should think about death while they are still alive.
3 If you are sad,
that is better for you than to laugh all the time.
We learn more about ourselves when we are sad.
4 A wise person thinks about funerals and what they mean.
A foolish person thinks about how to enjoy a party.
5 If a wise person warns you, listen to him.
That is better for you than to listen to the songs of a foolish person.
6 If you use thorn bushes to make a fire,
they make a lot of noise but they burn too quickly.
When a foolish person laughs,
their noise also has no purpose.
7 If a wise person cheats people,
he becomes a fool.
If you accept a bribe,
you will no longer think properly.
8 If you finish some work,
that is better than to start something new.
It is better to be patient than to be proud.
9 Control your angry thoughts.
Only fools allow their anger to continue.
10 Do not say, ‘Everything was a lot better in the past.’
Those are not wise thoughts.
11 It is good to have wisdom,
like money that you receive from your father.
Wisdom helps everyone who lives.
12 Both wisdom and money can keep you safe.
But wisdom is better.
If you are wise, your knowledge can save your life.
13 Think about the things that God has done.
If God has bent something,
nobody can make it straight again.
14 If your life is good, you should be happy.
But if you have trouble, think about this:
God causes both joy and trouble in our lives.
We do not know what will happen next.
15 In my short life on the earth
I have seen these things which have no purpose:
Sometimes righteous people may die when they are still young.
They did good things, but they died.
And sometimes wicked people continue to live for along time.
They did evil things, but they continued to live.
16 So do not try to be too good or too wise.
That might cause you to have trouble.
17 But do not be too wicked. Do not be a fool.
That might cause you to die when you are still young.
18 Remember both these things.
Do not forget either of them.
You can do that if you respect God and you obey him. [ a ]
19 Wisdom makes a wise person more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.
20 There is nobody on the earth who is so righteous
that they always do what is right.
There is nobody who never does a wrong thing.
21 Do not listen to all the things that people say about you.
You might hear your servant when he is cursing you!
22 Do not forget that you also have often cursed other people.
23 I have used wisdom to study all these things.
I tried very much to understand everything that happens.
But I could not do it.
24 People cannot understand these things.
The meaning of life is too difficult for anyone to understand.
25 I decided to study many things
so that I would become wise.
I wanted to understand the reason why things happen.
I also wanted to know why it is stupid to be wicked,
and why it is crazy to do foolish things.
26 I learned this:
Some women are like a trap that catches animals.
Women like that are more dangerous than death.
They may pretend to love you.
They may hold you in their arms.
But really their arms are like chains.
They want to catch you,
as hunters catch animals.
Women like that will easily catch
a man who has turned away from God.
But a man who pleases God
will escape from them.
27 This is what I, the Teacher, have learned.
I studied everything very carefully.
I wanted to know the reason why things happen.
28 I continued to try to learn more and more.
But I could not find the answers.
Among one thousand people,
I found one good man.
But among them all,
I did not find a good woman.
29 I did learn this:
God made people to do what is right.
But people have chosen their own way to do things.
7 A good reputation is better than expensive pleasures. [ a ]
The day someone dies is better than the day they were born.
2 It is better to go to a funeral than to a party,
because everyone must die,
and the living need to remember this.
3 Sorrow is even better than laughter,
because when our face is sad, our heart becomes good.
4 A wise person thinks about death,
but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
5 It is better to be criticized by the wise
than praised by the foolish.
6 The laughter of fools is such a waste.
It is like thorns burning under a pot.
The thorns burn so quickly
that the pot does not get hot. [ b ]
7 Even the wise will forget their wisdom,
if someone pays them enough.
That money destroys their understanding.
8 It is better to finish something
than to start it.
It is better to be gentle and patient
than to be proud and impatient.
9 Don’t become angry quickly,
because anger is foolish.
10 Don’t say, “Life was better in the ‘good old days.’
What happened?”
Wisdom does not lead us to ask that question.
11 Wisdom is better if you also have property. Wise people [ c ] will get more than enough wealth. 12 Wisdom and money can protect you. But knowledge gained through wisdom is even better—it can save your life.
13 Look at what God has made. You cannot change a thing, even if you think it is wrong. 14 When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember that God gives us good times and hard times. And no one knows what will happen in the future.
15 In my short life, I have seen everything. I have seen good people die young, and I have seen evil people live long lives. 16-17 So why ruin your life? Don’t be too good or too bad, and don’t be too wise or too foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18 Try to be a little of this and a little of that. [ d ] Even God’s followers will do some good things and some bad things. 19-20 Surely there is no one on earth who always does good and never sins. But wisdom can make one person stronger than ten leaders in a city.
21 Don’t listen to everything people say. You might hear your own servant saying bad things about you. 22 And you know that many times you too have said bad things about other people.
23 I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn’t do it. 24 I cannot understand why things are as they are. It is too hard for anyone to understand. 25 I studied and I tried very hard to find true wisdom. I tried to find a reason for everything.
I did learn that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a fool. 26 I also found that some women are dangerous like traps. Their hearts are like nets, and their arms are like chains. It is worse than death to be caught by these women. God’s followers should run away from them. Let the sinners be caught by them.
27-28 The Teacher says, “I added all this together to see what answer I could find. I am still looking for answers, but I did find this: I found one good man in a thousand. But I did not find even one good woman.
29 “There is one other thing I have learned. God made people good, but they have found many ways to be bad.”
7 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
7 A ( A ) good name is better than good [ a ] oil,
And the ( B ) day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because [ b ] that is the ( C ) end of every person,
And the living [ c ] ( D ) takes it to [ d ] heart.
3 ( E ) Sorrow is better than laughter,
For ( F ) when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
4 The [ e ] mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the [ f ] mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 It is better to ( G ) listen to the rebuke of a wise person
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
6 For as the [ g ] crackling of ( H ) thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the ( I ) laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.
7 For ( J ) oppression makes a wise person look foolish,
And a ( K ) bribe [ h ] corrupts the heart.
8 The ( L ) end of a matter is better than its beginning;
( M ) Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.
9 Do not be [ i ] ( N ) eager in your spirit to be angry,
For anger resides in the [ j ] heart of fools.
10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good,
And an ( O ) advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For ( P ) wisdom is [ k ] protection just as money is [ l ] protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that ( Q ) wisdom keeps its possessors alive.
13 Consider the ( R ) work of God,
For who is ( S ) able to straighten what He has bent?
14 ( T ) On the day of prosperity be happy,
But ( U ) on the day of adversity consider:
God has made the one as well as the other
So that a person will ( V ) not discover anything that will come after him.
15 I have seen everything during my [ m ] ( W ) lifetime of futility; there is ( X ) a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is ( Y ) a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be excessively ( Z ) righteous, and do not ( AA ) be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be foolish. Why should you ( AB ) die [ n ] before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp one thing while not [ o ] letting go of the other; for one who ( AC ) fears God comes out with [ p ] both of them.
19 ( AD ) Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20 Indeed, ( AE ) there is not a righteous person on earth who always does good and does not ever sin. 21 Also, do not [ q ] take seriously all the words which are spoken, so that you do not hear your servant ( AF ) cursing you, 22 for [ r ] you know that even you have cursed others many times as well.
23 I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” ( AG ) but wisdom was far from me. 24 What has been is remote and ( AH ) very [ s ] mysterious. ( AI ) Who can discover it? 25 I [ t ] ( AJ ) directed my [ u ] mind to know and to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of foolishness and the foolishness of insanity. 26 And I discovered as more ( AK ) bitter than death the woman whose heart is ( AL ) snares and nets, whose hands are chains. ( AM ) One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but ( AN ) the sinner will be captured by her.
27 “Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “ by adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28 which [ v ] I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a ( AO ) woman among all these. 29 Behold, I have found only this, that ( AP ) God made people upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
7 A good name is better than fine perfume, ( A )
and the day of death better than the day of birth. ( B )
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death ( C ) is the destiny ( D ) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter, ( E )
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. ( F )
5 It is better to heed the rebuke ( G ) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns ( H ) under the pot,
so is the laughter ( I ) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe ( J ) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience ( K ) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked ( L ) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools. ( M )
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days ( N ) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing ( O )
and benefits those who see the sun. ( P )
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done: ( Q )
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked? ( R )
14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other. ( S )
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
15 In this meaningless life ( T ) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness. ( U )
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time? ( V )
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God ( W ) will avoid all extremes. [ a ]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, ( Z )
no one who does what is right and never sins. ( AA )
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you ( AB ) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise” ( AC ) —
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it? ( AD )
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things ( AE )
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly. ( AF )
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare, ( AG )
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare. ( AH )
27 “Look,” says the Teacher, [ b ] ( AI ) “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman ( AJ ) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
