1 What needeth a man to seek things greater than himself, whereas he is ignorant, what is profitable for him in his life, in the number of the days of his peregrination, and the time that passeth as a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?
1 What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?
2 Better is a good name than precious ointments: and the day of death, than the day of nativity.
2 A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
3 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of banqueting, for in that the end of all men is signified, and he that liveth thinketh what shall be.
3 ¹It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.
4 Anger is better than laughter: because by sadness of the countenance, the mind of the offender is corrected.
4 Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
5 The heart of wisemen where sadness is, and the heart of fools where mirth.
5 The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
6 It is better to be rebuked of a wiseman, than to be deceived with the flattery of fools.
6 It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
7 Because as the sound of thorns burning under a pot, so the laughter of a fool: but this also is vanity.
7 For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
8 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
8 Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
9 Better is the end of a speech, than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the arrogant.
9 Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
10 Be not quickly angry, because anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
10 Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
11 Say not: What is the cause thinkest thou that the former times were better than they are now? For this manner of question is foolish.
11 Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? For this manner of question is foolish.
12 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and doth more profit them that see the sun.
12 Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
13 For as wisdom protecteth, so money protecteth. But learning and wisdom have this much more, that they give life to their owner.
13 For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.
14 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
14 Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
15 In the good day enjoy good things, and beware before of the evil day. For as this, so that also hath God made, that man find not against him just complaints.
15 In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
16 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: The just man perisheth in his justice, and the impious liveth a long time in his malice.
16 These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.
17 Be not just too much: neither be more wise than is necessary, lest thou become more dull.
17 Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
18 Do not impiously much: and be not foolish, lest thou die not in thy time.
18 Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
19 It is good that thou hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: because he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
19 It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
20 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise above ten Princes of the city.
20 Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
21 For there is no just man in the earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
21 For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
22 But to all words also that are spoken, do not apply thy heart: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant cursing thee.
22 ²But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
23 For thy conscience knoweth, that thou also hast cursed others.
23 For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
24 I have proved all things in wisdom. I have said: I will become wise, & it departed farther from me
24 I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
25 much more than it was: and a deep profundity, who shall find it?
25 Much more than it was: it is a great depth. Who shall find it out?
26 I have viewed all things with my mind, that I might know, and consider, and might seek wisdom and reason: and that I might know the impiety of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
26 I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
27 and I have found that a woman is more bitter than death, who is the snare of hunters, and her heart a net, her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God, will avoid her: but he that is a sinner, will be caught of her.
27 And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
28 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, one thing and another, that I might find reason,
28 Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
29 which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. A man of a thousand I have found one, a woman of all I have not found.
29 Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.
30 Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with infinite questions. Who is such a one as the wise? And who hath known the resolution of the word.
30 Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? And who hath known the resolution of the word?