1 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.
1 quid necesse est homini maiora se quaerere
cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua
numero dierum peregrinationis suae
et tempore quo velut umbra praeterit
aut quis ei poterit indicare
quid post eum futurum sub sole sit
2 melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa
et dies mortis die nativitatis
3 melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii
in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum
et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit
4 melior est ira risu
quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis
5 cor sapientium ubi tristitia est et cor stultorum ubi laetitia
6 melius est a sapiente corripi quam stultorum adulatione decipi
7 quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla sic risus stulti
sed et hoc vanitas
8 calumnia conturbat sapientem et perdet robur cordis illius
9 melior est finis orationis quam principium
melior est patiens arrogante
10 ne velox sis ad irascendum quia ira in sinu stulti
requiescit
11 ne dicas quid putas causae est
quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt
stulta est enim huiuscemodi interrogatio
12 utilior est sapientia cum divitiis
et magis prodest videntibus solem
13 sicut enim protegit sapientia sic protegit pecunia
hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia
quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo
14 considera opera Dei
quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit
15 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
16 haec quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meae
iustus perit in iustitia sua
et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua
17 noli esse iustus multum
neque plus sapias quam necesse est ne obstupescas
18 ne impie agas multum et noli esse stultus
ne moriaris in tempore non tuo
19 bonum est te sustentare iustum
sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam
quia qui Deum timet nihil neglegit
20 sapientia confortabit sapientem
super decem principes civitatis
21 non est enim homo iustus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet
22 sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accommodes cor tuum
ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi
23 scit enim tua conscientia quia et tu crebro maledixisti
aliis
24 cuncta temptavi in sapientia
dixi sapiens efficiar et ipsa longius recessit a me
25 multo magis quam erat
et alta profunditas quis inveniet eam
26 lustravi universa animo meo
ut scirem et considerarem et quaererem sapientiam et rationem
et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti et errorem inprudentium
27 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
28 ecce hoc inveni dicit Ecclesiastes unum et alterum
ut invenirem rationem
29 quam adhuc quaerit anima mea et non inveni
virum de mille unum repperi mulierem ex omnibus non inveni
30 solummodo hoc inveni quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum
et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quaestionibus
quis talis ut sapiens est et quis cognovit solutionem verbi