Berean Standard Bible

Ecclesiastes 7

1A good nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034is betterט֥וֹבTovH2896than fineט֑וֹבTovH2896perfumeמִשֶּׁ֣מֶןmi.She.menH8081,and one’s dayוְי֣וֹםve.YomH3117of deathהַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vetH4194is betterthan his dayמִיּ֖וֹםmi.YomH3117of birthהִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃hi.val.DoH3205.

2It is betterט֞וֹבTovH2896to enterלָלֶ֣כֶת אֶל־la.Le.khet 'el-H1980 H413a houseבֵּֽית־beit-H1004of mourningאֵ֗בֶל'E.velH60thanמִלֶּ֙כֶת֙mi.Le.khetH1980אֶל־'el-H413a houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of feastingמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960,sinceבַּאֲשֶׁ֕רba.'a.SherH834deathה֖וּאhu'H1931isthe endס֣וֹףSofH5490of everyכָּל־kol-H3605manהָאָדָ֑םha.'a.DamH120,and the livingוְהַחַ֖יve.ha.ChaiH2416should takeיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414thistoאֶל־'el-H413heartלִבּֽוֹ׃li.BoH3820.

3Sorrowכַּ֖עַסKa.'asH3708is betterט֥וֹבTovH2896than laughterמִשְּׂחֹ֑קmi.se.ChokH7814,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588a sadבְרֹ֥עַve.Ro.a'H7455countenanceפָּנִ֖יםpa.NimH6440is goodיִ֥יטַבYi.tavH3190for the heartלֵֽב׃LevH3820.

4The heartלֵ֤בlevH3820of the wiseחֲכָמִים֙cha.kha.MimH2450isin the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004of mourningאֵ֔בֶל'E.velH60,but the heartוְלֵ֥בve.LevH3820of foolsכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684is in the houseבְּבֵ֥יתbe.VeitH1004of pleasureשִׂמְחָֽה׃sim.ChahH8057.

5It is betterט֕וֹבTovH2896to heedלִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'H8085a wise man’sחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450rebukeגַּעֲרַ֣תga.'a.RatH1606thanמֵאִ֕ישׁme.'IshH376to listenשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085to the songשִׁ֥ירshirH7892of foolsכְּסִילִֽים׃ke.si.LimH3684.

6Forכִּ֣יkiH3588like the cracklingכְק֤וֹלkhe.KolH6963of thornsהַסִּירִים֙ha.si.RimH5518underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the potהַסִּ֔ירha.SirH5518,soכֵּ֖ןkenH3651is the laughterשְׂחֹ֣קse.ChokH7814of the foolהַכְּסִ֑ילha.ke.SilH3684.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

7Surelyכִּ֥יkiH3588extortionהָעֹ֖שֶׁקha.'O.shekH6233turns a wise manחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450into a foolיְהוֹלֵ֣לye.ho.LelH1984,and a bribeמַתָּנָֽה׃ma.ta.NahH4979corruptsוִֽיאַבֵּ֥דvi.'a.BedH6אֶת־'et-H853the heartלֵ֖בlevH3820.

8The endאַחֲרִ֥ית'a.cha.RitH319of a matterדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697is betterט֛וֹבTovH2896than the beginningמֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹme.re.shi.ToH7225, anda patientאֶֽרֶךְ־'e.rekh-H750spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307is betterט֥וֹבTovH2896than a proudמִגְּבַהּ־mi.ge.vah-H1364oneרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

9Do notאַל־'al-H408be quicklyתְּבַהֵ֥לte.va.HelH926provokedלִכְע֑וֹסlikh.'osH3707in your spiritבְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖be.ru.cha.KhaH7307,forכִּ֣יkiH3588angerכַ֔עַסKha.'asH3708settlesיָנֽוּחַ׃ya.Nu.achH5117in the lapבְּחֵ֥יקbe.CheikH2436of a foolכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684.

10Do notאַל־'al-H408sayתֹּאמַר֙to.MarH559, “Whyמֶ֣הmehH4100wereהָיָ֔הha.YahH1961the oldהָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּha.Ri.sho.Nim ha.YuH7223 H1961daysשֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙she.hai.ya.mimH3117betterטוֹבִ֖יםto.VimH2896than theseמֵאֵ֑לֶּהme.'E.lehH428?”Forכִּ֛יkiH3588it is unwiseלֹ֥א מֵחָכְמָ֖הlo' me.cha.khe.MahH3808 H2451of you to askשָׁאַ֥לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592aboutעַל־'al-H5921thisזֶֽה׃ZehH2088.

11Wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451,likeעִֽם־'im-H5973an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159, isgoodטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896,and it benefitsוְיֹתֵ֖רve.yo.TerH3148those who seeלְרֹאֵ֥יle.ro.'EiH7200the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

12Forכִּ֛יkiH3588wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451בְּצֵ֥לbe.TzelH6738,like moneyהַכָּ֑סֶףha.Ka.sefH3701, isa shelterבְּצֵ֣לbe.TzelH6738,and the advantageוְיִתְר֣וֹןve.yit.RonH3504of knowledgeדַּ֔עַתDa.'atH1847is that wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451preserves the lifeתְּחַיֶּ֥הte.chai.YehH2421of its ownerבְעָלֶֽיהָ׃ve.'a.Lei.haH1167.

13Considerרְאֵ֖הre.'EhH7200אֶת־'et-H853the workמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.SehH4639of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430כִּ֣יkiH3588:Whoמִ֤יmiH4310canיוּכַל֙yu.KhalH3201straightenלְתַקֵּ֔ןle.ta.KenH8626אֵ֖ת'etH853whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834He has bentעִוְּתֽוֹ׃i.ve.ToH5791?

14In the dayבְּי֤וֹםbe.YomH3117of prosperityטוֹבָה֙to.VahH2896,beהֱיֵ֣הhe.YehH1961joyfulבְט֔וֹבve.TovH2896,but in the dayוּבְי֥וֹםu.ve.YomH3117of adversityרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451,consider thisרְאֵ֑ה גַּ֣םre.'Eh gamH7200 H1571אֶת־'et-H853:Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213oneזֶ֤הzehH2088of thesealong withלְעֻמַּת־le.'u.mat-H5980the otherזֶה֙zehH2088,so thatעַל־ דִּבְרַ֗ת'al- div.RatH5921 H1700a manהָֽאָדָ֛םha.'a.DamH120cannotשֶׁלֹּ֨אshe.Lo'H3808discoverיִמְצָ֧אyim.Tza'H4672anythingמְאֽוּמָה׃me.'U.mahH3972that will come after himאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310.

The Limits of Human Wisdom

15אֶת־'et-H853In my futileהֶבְלִ֑יhev.LiH1892lifeבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117I have seenרָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiH7200both of theseהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605יֵ֤שׁyeshH3426:A righteous manצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662perishingאֹבֵ֣ד'o.VedH6in his righteousnessבְּצִדְק֔וֹbe.tzid.KoH6664, andוְיֵ֣שׁve.YeshH3426a wicked manרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563living longמַאֲרִ֖יךְma.'a.RikhH748in his wickednessבְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃be.ra.'a.ToH7451.

16Do notאַל־'al-H408beתְּהִ֤יte.HiH1961overlyהַרְבֵּ֔הhar.BehH7235righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662,and do notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408make yourself tooיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseתִּתְחַכַּ֖םtit.cha.KamH2449.Whyלָ֖מָּהLa.mahH4100should you destroy yourselfתִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ti.sho.MemH8074?

17Do notאַל־'al-H408be excessivelyהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235wickedתִּרְשַׁ֥עtir.Sha'H7561,and do notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408beתְּהִ֣יte.HiH1961a foolסָכָ֑לsa.KhalH5530.Whyלָ֥מָּהLa.mahH4100should you dieתָמ֖וּתta.MutH4191beforeבְּלֹ֥אbe.Lo'H3808your timeעִתֶּֽךָ׃'i.Te.khaH6256?

18It is goodט֚וֹבTovH2896אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834to graspתֶּאֱחֹ֣זte.'e.ChozH270the oneבָּזֶ֔הba.ZehH2088andוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571notאַל־'al-H408let the other slipתַּנַּ֣חta.NachH5117אֶת־'et-H853fromמִזֶּ֖הmi.ZehH2088your handיָדֶ֑ךָya.De.khaH3027.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588he who fearsיְרֵ֥אye.Re'H3373Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430will followיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318אֶת־'et-H853bothכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605warnings.

19Wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451makes the wise manלֶחָכָ֑םle.cha.KhamH2450stronger thanתָּעֹ֣זta.'OzH5810tenמֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙me.'a.sa.RahH6235rulersשַׁלִּיטִ֔יםsha.li.TimH7989אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834הָי֖וּha.YuH1961in a cityבָּעִֽיר׃ba.'IrH5892.

20Surelyכִּ֣יkiH3588there is noאֵ֥ין'einH369righteousצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120on earthבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834doesיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213goodטּ֖וֹבTovH2896and neverוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808sinsיֶחֱטָֽא׃ye.che.Ta'H2398.

21גַּ֤םgamH1571Do notאַל־'al-H408payתִּתֵּ֖ןti.TenH5414attentionלִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaH3820אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834to everyלְכָל־le.kholH3605wordהַדְּבָרִים֙ha.de.va.RimH1697thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is spokenיְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruH1696,orלֹֽא־lo'-H3808you may hearתִשְׁמַ֥עtish.Ma'H8085אֶֽת־'et-H853your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650cursing youמְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃me.ka.Le.chaH7043.

22Forכִּ֛י גַּם־ki gam-H3588 H1571you knowיָדַ֣עya.Da'H3045in your heartלִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaH3820thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר גַּם־'a.Sher gam-H834 H1571manyרַבּ֖וֹתra.BotH7227timesפְּעָמִ֥יםpe.'a.MimH6471you yourselfאַתָּ֖ה'atH859have cursedקִלַּ֥לְתָּki.Lal.taH7043othersאֲחֵרִֽים׃'a.che.RimH312.

23Allכָּל־kol-H3605thisזֹ֖הzohH2090I testedנִסִּ֣יתִיni.Si.tiH5254by wisdomבַֽחָכְמָ֑הva.cha.khe.MahH2451, saying, “I resolveאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to be wiseאֶחְכָּ֔מָה'ech.Ka.mahH2449.”But itוְהִ֖יאve.Hi'H1931was beyondרְחוֹקָ֥הre.cho.KahH7350meמִמֶּֽנִּי׃mi.Me.niH4480.

24Whatמַה־mah-H4100existsשֶּׁהָיָ֑הshe.ha.YahH1961is out of reachרָח֖וֹקra.ChokH7350and very deepH6013.Whoמִ֥יmiH4310can fathom itיִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃yim.tza.'E.nuH4672?

25Iאֲנִ֤י'a.NiH589directedסַבּ֨וֹתִֽיsa.Bo.tiH5437my mindוְלִבִּי֙ve.li.BiH3820to understandלָדַ֣עַתla.Da.'atH3045,to exploreוְלָת֔וּרve.la.TurH8446,to search outוּבַקֵּ֥שׁu.va.KeshH1245wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451and explanationsוְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹןve.chesh.BonH2808,and to understandוְלָדַ֙עַת֙ve.la.Da.'atH3045the stupidityכֶּ֔סֶלKe.selH3689of wickednessרֶ֣שַׁעRe.sha'H7562and the follyוְהַסִּכְל֖וּתve.ha.sikh.LutH5531of madnessהוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃ho.le.LotH1947.

26And Iאֲנִ֜י'a.NiH589findוּמוֹצֶ֨אu.mo.Tze'H4672more bitterמַ֣רmarH4751than deathמִמָּ֗וֶתmi.Ma.vetH4194אֶת־'et-H853the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802whoאֲשֶׁר־ הִ֨יא'a.Sher- hi'H834 H1931isa snareמְצוֹדִ֧יםme.tzo.DimH4685,whose heartלִבָּ֖הּli.BahH3820isa netוַחֲרָמִ֛יםva.cha.ra.MimH2764,and whose handsיָדֶ֑יהָya.Dei.haH3027arechainsאֲסוּרִ֣ים'a.su.RimH612.The man who pleasesט֞וֹב לִפְנֵ֤יTov lif.NeiH2896 H6440Godהָאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430escapesיִמָּלֵ֣טyi.ma.LetH4422herמִמֶּ֔נָּהmi.Me.nahH4480,but the sinnerוְחוֹטֵ֖אve.cho.Te'H2398is ensnaredיִלָּ֥כֶדyi.La.khedH3920.

27“Beholdרְאֵה֙re.'EhH7200,”saysאָמְרָ֖ה'a.me.RahH559the Teacherקֹהֶ֑לֶתko.He.letH6953, “I have discoveredמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672thisזֶ֣הzehH2088by adding oneאַחַ֥ת'a.ChatH259thing to anotherלְאַחַ֖תle.'a.ChatH259to findלִמְצֹ֥אlim.Tzo'H4672an explanationחֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃chesh.BonH2808.

28Whileאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834my soulנַפְשִׁ֖יnaf.ShiH5315was stillעוֹד־'od-H5750searchingבִּקְשָׁ֥הbik.ShahH1245but notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808findingמָצָ֑אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672,among a thousandמֵאֶ֙לֶף֙me.'E.lefH505I have foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672oneאֶחָ֤ד'e.ChadH259uprightmanאָדָ֞ם'a.DamH120,but among allבְכָל־ve.khol-H3605theseאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428I have notלֹ֥אlo'H3808foundמָצָֽאתִי׃ma.Tza.tiH4672one suchwomanוְאִשָּׁ֥הve.'i.ShahH802.

29Onlyלְבַד֙le.VadH905thisזֶ֣הzehH2088have I foundרְאֵה־re.'eh-H7200:I have discoveredמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Godהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430אֶת־'et-H853madeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213mankindהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120uprightיָשָׁ֑רya.SharH3477,but theyוְהֵ֥מָּהve.He.mahH1992have sought outבִקְשׁ֖וּvik.ShuH1245manyרַבִּֽים׃ra.BimH7227schemesחִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹתchi.she.vo.NotH2810.”

The Limits of Human Wisdom

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7