1A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. (Pr 22:1; Ec 4:2; So 1:3)2It 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. (Ps 90:12)3Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. (2Co 7:10)4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. (Ps 141:5; Pr 13:18; Pr 15:31)6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.[1] (Ps 58:9; Ps 118:12; Joe 2:5)7Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (De 16:19; Pr 17:8; Ec 4:1)8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (Pr 14:29)9Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart[2] of fools. (Pr 14:17; Pr 16:32; Eph 4:26; Jas 1:19)10Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. (Ec 6:5; Ec 11:7)12For 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. (Pr 3:18; Ec 10:19)13Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? (Job 12:14; Ec 1:15; Ec 3:11; Isa 14:27)14In 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. (De 28:47; Ec 3:4; Ec 3:22; Ec 6:12)15In my vain[3] 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. (Ec 6:12; Ec 8:12; Ec 8:14; Ec 9:9)16Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? (Ro 12:3)17Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? (Job 22:16; Pr 10:27)18It 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. (Ec 7:16; Ec 7:17; Ec 11:6)19Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. (Pr 21:22; Pr 24:5; Ec 9:16; Ec 9:18)20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. (1Ki 8:46)21Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. (Pr 30:10)22Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others. (Ga 6:1)23All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. (Ro 1:22)24That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? (Job 28:12; Job 28:20; Ro 11:33; 1Ti 6:16)25I 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. (Ec 1:17)26And 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. (Pr 2:16; Pr 5:4; Pr 12:12; Pr 22:14; Pr 23:28)27Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things— (Ec 1:1)28which 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. (1Ki 11:3; Job 33:23; Ec 7:20)29See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (Ge 1:27; Ge 3:6)
1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.3Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.5It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.6Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.10Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.12Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves those who have it.13Consider what God has done: who can straighten what he has made crooked?14When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no-one can discover anything about their future.15In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.16Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself?17Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool – why die before your time?18It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.[1]19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.20Indeed, there is no-one on earth who is righteous, no-one who does what is right and never sins.21Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you –22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, ‘I am determined to be wise’ – but this was beyond me.24Whatever exists is far off and most profound – who can discover it?25So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.26I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.27‘Look,’ says the Teacher,[2] ‘this is what I have discovered: ‘Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things –28while I was still searching but not finding – I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.29This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.’
1A good name is better than fine perfume. People can learn more from mourning when someone dies than from being happy when someone is born.2So it’s better to go where people are mourning than to go where people are having a good time. Everyone will die someday. Those who are still living should really think about that.3Not being able to figure things out is better than laughter. That’s because sorrow is good for the heart.4Those who are wise are found where there is sorrow. But foolish people are found where there is pleasure.5Pay attention to a wise person’s warning. That’s better than listening to the songs of those who are foolish.6A foolish person’s laughter is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot. That doesn’t have any meaning either.7When a wise person takes wealth by force, they become foolish. It is sinful to take money from people who want special favours.8The end of a matter is better than its beginning. So it’s better to be patient than proud.9Don’t become angry quickly. Anger lives in the hearts of foolish people.10Don’t say, ‘Why were things better in the good old days?’ It isn’t wise to ask that kind of question.11Wisdom is a good thing. It’s like getting a share of the family wealth. It benefits those who live on this earth.12Wisdom provides safety, just as money provides safety. But here’s the advantage of wisdom. It guards those who have it.13Think about what God has done. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?14When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, here’s something to think about. God has made bad times. He has also made good times. So no one can find out anything about what’s ahead for them.15In my meaningless life here’s what I’ve seen. I’ve seen godly people dying even though they are godly. And I’ve seen sinful people living a long time even though they are sinful.16Don’t claim to be better than you are. And don’t claim to be wiser than you are. Why destroy yourself?17Don’t be too sinful. And don’t be foolish. Why die before your time comes?18It’s good to hold on to both of those things. Don’t let go of either one. Whoever has respect for God will avoid going too far in either direction.19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.20It is true that there isn’t anyone on earth who does only what is right and never sins.21Don’t pay attention to everything people say. If you do, you might hear your servant cursing you.22Many times you yourself have cursed others. Deep down inside, you know that’s true.23I used wisdom to test all these things. I said, ‘I’ve made up my mind to be wise.’ But it was more than I could accomplish.24Whatever exists is far away and very deep. Who can find it?25So I tried to understand wisdom more completely. I wanted to study it and figure it out. I tried to find out everything I could about it. I tried to understand why it’s foolish to be evil. I wanted to see why choosing foolishness is so unwise.26A woman who hunts a man down is more painful than death. Her heart is like a trap. Her hands are like chains. A man who pleases God will try to get away from her. But she will trap a sinner.27‘Look’, says the Teacher. ‘Here’s what I’ve discovered. ‘I added one thing to another to find out everything I could about wisdom.28I searched and searched but found very little. I did find one honest man among a thousand. But I didn’t find one honest woman among a thousand.29Here’s the only other thing I found. God created human beings as honest. But they’ve made many evil plans.’
Ecclesiastes 7
King James Version
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one' birth.2It 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.3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?14In 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.15All 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.16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?18It 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.19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?25I 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:26And 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.27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:28Which 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.29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
1Besser ein guter Name als Parfüm - und der Tag eines Todes als der Tag einer Geburt;[1] (Job 18:17; Pr 10:7; Pr 22:1; Sir 11:27; Sir 41:11)2besser der Gang in ein Haus, wo man trauert, / als der Gang in ein Haus, wo man trinkt,
weil dies das Ende eines jeden Menschen ist. / Wer lebt, möge sich das zu Herzen nehmen! (Ec 11:9; Jer 16:5; Sir 7:36)3Besser sich ärgern als lachen; / denn bei einem vergrämten Gesicht wird das Herz heiter. (Pr 14:13; Ec 2:2; 1Co 3:10)4Das Herz der Gebildeten ist im Haus, wo man trauert, / das Herz der Ungebildeten im Haus, wo man sich freut.
Zum Thema Bildung
5Besser, die Mahnrede eines Gebildeten anhören, / als dem Gesang der Ungebildeten lauschen; (Pr 13:1; Pr 15:32)6denn wie das Prasseln der Dornen unter dem Kessel, / so ist das Lachen des Ungebildeten. - Aber auch das ist Windhauch, denn:[2]7Erpressung verblendet den Gebildeten / und Bestechung verdirbt den Verstand. (Ex 23:8; De 16:19; Pr 12:1; Pr 15:27)
Zum Thema Zurückhaltung und Hängen am Hergebrachten
8Besser der Ausgang einer Sache als ihr Anfang, / besser Langmut als Hochmut. (1Ki 20:11; Job 8:7; Pr 16:32; Pr 24:20)9Hab keinen Missmut, sodass du dich ärgerst, / denn Ärger steckt in den Ungebildeten. - (Job 5:2; Pr 12:16; Pr 22:24)10Doch frag nicht: Wie kommt es, dass die früheren Zeiten besser waren als unsere? Denn deine Frage zeugt nicht von Wissen.
Zum Thema Wissen als Mittel zu langem Leben
11Wissen ist so viel wert wie Erbbesitz, / es ist von Vorteil für die, welche die Sonne sehen; (Pr 3:14; Pr 16:16)12denn wer sich im Schatten des Wissens birgt, der ist auch im Schatten des Geldes; / und der Vorteil des Könnens: Das Wissen erhält seinen Besitzer am Leben. - (Pr 3:1)13Sieh das Tun Gottes! Denn:
Wer kann geradebiegen, was er gekrümmt hat? (Ec 1:15; Isa 40:4; Isa 42:16)14Am Glückstag erfreue dich deines Glücks und am Unglückstag sieh ein: Auch diesen hat Gott geschaffen, genau wie jenen, sodass der Mensch von dem, was nach ihm kommt, gar nichts herausfinden kann. (Job 2:10; Ec 3:11; Sir 11:14; Sir 14:14)15In meinen Tagen voll Windhauch habe ich beides beobachtet: Es kommt vor, dass ein gesetzestreuer Mensch trotz seiner Gesetzestreue elend endet, und es kommt vor, dass einer, der sich nicht um das Gesetz kümmert, trotz seines bösen Tuns ein langes Leben hat. (Job 21:7; Ps 73:12; Ec 8:14; Ec 9:1)16Halte dich nicht zu streng an das Gesetz und sei nicht maßlos im Erwerb von Wissen! Warum solltest du dich selbst ruinieren? (Ec 2:15; Lu 18:9)17Entfern dich nicht zu weit vom Gesetz und verharre nicht im Unwissen: Warum solltest du vor der Zeit sterben? (Ps 1:1; Ps 119:1; Ec 3:2; Isa 3:10)18Es ist am besten, wenn du an dem einen festhältst, aber auch das andere nicht loslässt. Wer Gott fürchtet, wird sich in jedem Fall richtig verhalten. (Pr 10:27)
Zum Thema Wissen als Schutz
19Das Wissen ist für den Gebildeten ein stärkerer Schutz / als zehn Machthaber zusammen, / die in der Stadt geherrscht haben. - (Pr 21:22; Pr 24:5; Ec 9:16)20Doch gibt es auf der Erde keinen einzigen Menschen, der so gesetzestreu wäre, dass er stets richtig handelt, ohne je einen Fehler zu begehen. (1Ki 8:46; Job 4:17; Job 15:14; Ps 14:3; Ps 51:7; Ps 143:2; Ro 1:18; Ro 5:12; 1Jo 1:8; Sir 26:29)21Hör auch nicht auf all die Worte, die man so sagt! Denn niemals wirst du einen Untergebenen über dich schimpfen hören22und doch bist du dir bewusst, dass auch du sehr oft über andere geschimpft hast. (Mt 7:3)
Zum Thema Überliefertes Wissen und Wissen aus Beobachtung
23Auf allen Wegen habe ich es mit dem Wissen versucht. Ich habe gesagt: Ich will lernen und dadurch gebildet werden. Aber das Wissen blieb für mich in der Ferne. (Job 28:1; Bar 3:15)24Fern ist alles, was geschehen ist, / und tief, tief versunken - wer könnte es wiederfinden? (Ec 1:11; Ec 3:11)25So habe ich, genauer: mein Verstand, mich umgestellt. Ich wollte forschend und suchend erkennen, was dasjenige Wissen wirklich ist, das Einzelbeobachtungen zusammenrechnet. Ferner wollte ich erkennen, ob Gesetzesübertretung mit mangelnder Bildung und Unwissen mit Verblendung zusammenhängt. (Ec 1:17)26Immer wieder finde ich die Ansicht, stärker als der Tod sei die Frau. Denn:
Sie ist ein Ring von Belagerungstürmen / und ihr Herz ist ein Fangnetz, / Fesseln sind ihre Arme.
Wem Gott wohlwill, der kann sich vor ihr retten, / wessen Leben verfehlt ist, wird von ihr eingefangen. (Jud 16:4; Pr 2:16; Pr 5:2; Pr 18:22; Pr 22:14; Pr 31:10; Ec 2:26)27Aber sieh dir an, was ich, Beobachtung um Beobachtung, herausgefunden habe, sagte Kohelet, bis ich schließlich das Rechenergebnis fand. (Ec 1:2; Ec 12:8)28Was ich immer wieder suchte, aber nicht bestätigt gefunden habe:
Unter Tausenden habe ich nur einen einzigen Menschen gefunden, / eine Frau habe ich unter ihnen allen nicht gefunden. (So 3:1; So 5:6; Sir 6:6)29Sieh nur, was ich gefunden habe:
Gott hat die Menschen recht gemacht, / sie aber haben sich in allen möglichen Berechnungen versucht. (Ge 1:26)