DRC, KJV, VulgClementine - Ecclesiastes - 7

7:1  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?

7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

7:1  Quid necesse est homini majora se quærere, cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua, numero dierum peregrinationis suæ, et tempore quod velut umbra præterit ? aut quis ei poterit indicare quod post eum futurum sub sole sit ?

7:2  A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

7:2  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.

7:2  Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.

7:3  It 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.

7:3  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

7:3  Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii ; in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.

7:4  Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.

7:4  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

7:4  Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.

7:5  The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.

7:5  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

7:5  Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.

7:6  It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.

7:6  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

7:6  Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi ;

7:7  For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.

7:7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

7:7  quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.

7:8  Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.

7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

7:8  Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.

7:9  Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.

7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

7:9  Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.

7:10  Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.

7:10  Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

7:10  Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.

7:11  Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.

7:11  Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

7:11  Ne dicas : Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt ? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.

7:12  Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.

7:12  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.

7:12  Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.

7:13  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.

7:13  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

7:13  Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia ; hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.

7:14  Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.

7:14  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.

7:14  Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.

7:15  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.

7:15  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.

7:15  In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave ; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.

7:16  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.

7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

7:16  Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ : justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.

7:17  Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.

7:17  Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

7:17  Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.

7:18  Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

7:18  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.

7:18  Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.

7:19  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.

7:19  Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

7:19  Bonum est te sustentare justum : sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam ; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.

7:20  Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.

7:20  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

7:20  Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis ;

7:21  For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

7:21  Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

7:21  non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.

7:22  But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.

7:22  For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

7:22  Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi ;

7:23  For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.

7:23  All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

7:23  scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.

7:24  I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,

7:24  That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

7:24  Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi : Sapiens efficiar : et ipsa longius recessit a me,

7:25  Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?

7:25  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:

7:25  multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam ?

7:26  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:

7:26  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.

7:26  Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium :

7:27  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.

7:27  Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

7:27  et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor ejus ; vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo effugiet illam ; qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa.

7:28  Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,

7:28  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.

7:28  Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,

7:29  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.

7:29  Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

7:29  quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi ; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.

7:30  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?

7:30  Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est ? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi ?