English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly

A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.

1

The Value of Wisdom

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 this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.

2

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.

3

Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

3

Vexation 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.

4

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

5

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

5

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

6

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

6

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

7

Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

7

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

8

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

8

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.

9

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heartb of fools.

9

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.

10

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

10

Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11

Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who see the sun.

11

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.

12

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

12

For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

13

Consider the work of God:
who can make straight what he has made crooked?

13

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

14

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

14

In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.

15

In my vainc life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.

15

Limits of Human Wisdom

All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.

16

Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

16

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17

Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

17

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

18

It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

18

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.

19

Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

19

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.

20

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

20

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.

21

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.

21

Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.

22

Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

22

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

23

All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

23

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

24

That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

24

Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?

25

I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

25

I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26

And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

26

and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

27

Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things —

27

See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;

28

which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.

28

which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.

29

See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

29

Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

Parallel

English Standard Version

Darby Bible Translation

Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7