Ecclesiastes 7

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa et dies mortis die nativitatis

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.

melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit

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

melior est ira risu quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis

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

cor sapientium ubi tristitia est et cor stultorum ubi laetitia

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

melius est a sapiente corripi quam stultorum adulatione decipi

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

quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla sic risus stulti sed et hoc vanitas

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

calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius

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

melior est finis orationis quam principium melior est patiens arrogante

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

ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit

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

ne dicas quid putas causae est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt stulta est enim huiuscemodi interrogatio

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

utilior est sapientia cum divitiis et magis prodest videntibus solem

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.

sicut enim protegit sapientia sic protegit pecunia hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo

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

considera opera Dei quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit

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.

in die bona fruere bonis et malam diem praecave sicut enim hanc sic et illam fecit Deus ut non inveniat homo contra eum iustas querimonias

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.

haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae iustus perit in iustitia sua et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua

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

noli esse iustus multum neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas

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

ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus ne moriaris in tempore non tuo

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.

bonum est te sustentare iustum sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit

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

sapientia confortabit sapientem super decem principes civitatis

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

non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet

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

sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi

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

scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis

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

cuncta temptavi in sapientia dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me

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

multo magis quam erat et alta profunditas quis inveniet eam

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:

lustravi universa animo meo ut scirem et considerarem et quaererem sapientiam et rationem et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti et errorem inprudentium

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.

et inveni amariorem morte mulierem quae laqueus venatorum est et sagena cor eius vincula sunt manus illius qui placet Deo effugiet eam qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa

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

ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem

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.

quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni

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

solummodo hoc inveni quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quaestionibus quis talis ut sapiens est et quis cognovit solutionem verbi