Ecclesiastes 7
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Clementine Vulgate, 1598
1What 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?
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?
2A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
3It 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.
3Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii; in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
4Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
4Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
5The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
5Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
6It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
6Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
7For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
7quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.
8Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
8Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
9Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
9Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
10Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
10Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
11Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.
11Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
12Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
12Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
13For 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.
13Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia; hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
14Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
14Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
15In 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.
15In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.
16These 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.
16Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
17Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
17Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
18Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
18Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
19It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
19Bonum est te sustentare justum: sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.
20Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
20Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
21For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
21non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
22But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
22Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
23For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
23scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
24I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
24Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
25Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
25multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?]
26I 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:
26[Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
27And 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.
27et 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.
28Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
28Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
29Which 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.
29quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
30Only 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?
30Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?]
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