New American Standard Bible 1995

Ecclesiastes 7

Wisdom and Folly Contrasted

1Agoodט֥וֹבTovH2896nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034is betterH2896thanH4480a goodט֑וֹבTovH2896ointmentמִשֶּׁ֣מֶןmi.She.menH8081, And thedayוְי֣וֹםve.YomH3117of one’sdeathהַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vetH4194is better thanH4480the dayמִיּ֖וֹםmi.YomH3117of one’s birthהִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃hi.val.DoH3205.

2It is betterט֞וֹבTovH2896to goלָלֶ֣כֶתla.Le.khetH1980to a houseבֵּֽית־beit-H1004of mourningאֵ֗בֶל'E.velH60ThanH4480to goמִלֶּ֙כֶת֙mi.Le.khetH1980to a houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of feastingמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960,Becauseבַּאֲשֶׁ֕רba.'a.SherH834that is theendס֣וֹףSofH5490of everyכָּל־kol-H3605manהָאָדָ֑םha.'a.DamH120,And the livingוְהַחַ֖יve.ha.ChaiH2416takesיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414it toheartלִבּֽוֹ׃li.BoH3820.

3Sorrowכַּ֖עַסKa.'asH3708is betterט֥וֹבTovH2896thanH4480laughterמִשְּׂחֹ֑קmi.se.ChokH7814, Forwhen a faceפָּנִ֖יםpa.NimH6440is sadבְרֹ֥עַve.Ro.a'H7455a heartלֵֽב׃LevH3820may be happyיִ֥יטַבYi.tavH3190.

4Themindלֵ֤בlevH3820of the wiseחֲכָמִים֙cha.kha.MimH2450is in the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004of mourningאֵ֔בֶל'E.velH60, While themindוְלֵ֥בve.LevH3820of foolsכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684is in the houseבְּבֵ֥יתbe.VeitH1004of pleasureשִׂמְחָֽה׃sim.ChahH8057.

5It is betterט֕וֹבTovH2896tolistenלִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'H8085to the rebukeגַּעֲרַ֣תga.'a.RatH1606of a wiseחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450manH2450ThanH4480for oneמֵאִ֕ישׁme.'IshH376to listenשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085to the songשִׁ֥ירshirH7892of foolsכְּסִילִֽים׃ke.si.LimH3684.

6For as thecracklingכְק֤וֹלkhe.KolH6963ofthornהַסִּירִים֙ha.si.RimH5518bushesH5518underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478a potהַסִּ֔ירha.SirH5518,Soכֵּ֖ןkenH3651is thelaughterשְׂחֹ֣קse.ChokH7814of the foolהַכְּסִ֑ילha.ke.SilH3684;And thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571is futilityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

7Foroppressionהָעֹ֖שֶׁקha.'O.shekH6233makesH1984a wiseחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450manH2450madH1984, And abribeמַתָּנָֽה׃ma.ta.NahH4979corruptsוִֽיאַבֵּ֥דvi.'a.BedH6the heartלֵ֖בlevH3820.

8Theendאַחֲרִ֥ית'a.cha.RitH319of a matterדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697is betterט֛וֹבTovH2896thanH4480its beginningמֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹme.re.shi.ToH7225;Patienceאֶֽרֶךְ־'e.rekh-H750of spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307is betterט֥וֹבTovH2896thanH4480haughtinessמִגְּבַהּ־mi.ge.vah-H1364of spiritרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

9Do not beeagerתְּבַהֵ֥לte.va.HelH926in your heartבְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖be.ru.cha.KhaH7307to be angryלִכְע֑וֹסlikh.'osH3707,For angerכַ֔עַסKha.'asH3708residesיָנֽוּחַ׃ya.Nu.achH5117in the bosomבְּחֵ֥יקbe.CheikH2436of foolsכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684.

10Do not sayתֹּאמַר֙to.MarH559, “Whyמֶ֣הmehH4100is it that the formerהָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔יםha.Ri.sho.NimH7223daysשֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙she.hai.ya.mimH3117were betterטוֹבִ֖יםto.VimH2896thanH4480theseמֵאֵ֑לֶּהme.'E.lehH428?”For it is not from wisdomמֵחָכְמָ֖הme.cha.khe.MahH2451that you askשָׁאַ֥לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592aboutעַל־'al-H5921thisזֶֽה׃ZehH2088.

11Wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451alongעִֽם־'im-H5973with an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159is goodטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896And anadvantageוְיֹתֵ֖רve.yo.TerH3148to those who seeלְרֹאֵ֥יle.ro.'EiH7200the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

12Forwisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451isprotectionבְּצֵ֥לbe.TzelH6738just asmoneyהַכָּ֑סֶףha.Ka.sefH3701isprotectionבְּצֵ֣לbe.TzelH6738,But the advantageוְיִתְר֣וֹןve.yit.RonH3504of knowledgeדַּ֔עַתDa.'atH1847is thatwisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451preservesH2421the livesH2421of its possessorsבְעָלֶֽיהָ׃ve.'a.Lei.haH1167.

13Considerרְאֵ֖הre.'EhH7200theworkמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.SehH4639of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,For whoמִ֤יmiH4310isableיוּכַל֙yu.KhalH3201to straightenלְתַקֵּ֔ןle.ta.KenH8626whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834He has bentעִוְּתֽוֹ׃i.ve.ToH5791?

14In the dayבְּי֤וֹםbe.YomH3117of prosperityH2899be happyH2896, Butin the dayוּבְי֥וֹםu.ve.YomH3117of adversityH7463considerרְאֵ֑הre.'EhH7200--Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213the oneזֶ֤הzehH2088as wellלְעֻמַּת־le.'u.mat-H5980as the otherזֶה֙zehH2088Soעַל־ דִּבְרַ֗ת'al- div.RatH5921 H1700that manהָֽאָדָ֛םha.'a.DamH120willnot discoverיִמְצָ֧אyim.Tza'H4672anythingמְאֽוּמָה׃me.'U.mahH3972that will beafterאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310him.

15I have seenרָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiH7200everythingהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605during mylifetimeבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117of futilityהֶבְלִ֑יhev.LiH1892;thereיֵ֤שׁyeshH3426isa righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662manH6662who perishesאֹבֵ֣ד'o.VedH6in his righteousnessבְּצִדְק֔וֹbe.tzid.KoH6664and thereוְיֵ֣שׁve.YeshH3426isa wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563manH7563who prolongsמַאֲרִ֖יךְma.'a.RikhH748his lifein his wickednessH7463.

16Do not be excessivelyהַרְבֵּ֔הhar.BehH7235righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662and do notbe overlyיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseתִּתְחַכַּ֖םtit.cha.KamH2449.Whyלָ֖מָּהLa.mahH4100should you ruinתִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ti.sho.MemH8074yourself?

17Do not be excessivelyהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235wickedתִּרְשַׁ֥עtir.Sha'H7561and do not be a foolסָכָ֑לsa.KhalH5530.Whyלָ֥מָּהLa.mahH4100should youdieתָמ֖וּתta.MutH4191beforeבְּלֹ֥אbe.Lo'H3808your timeעִתֶּֽךָ׃'i.Te.khaH6256?

18It is goodט֚וֹבTovH2896that you graspתֶּאֱחֹ֣זte.'e.ChozH270oneH2088thingH2088and alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571notletH5117 H3027goH5117 H3027of the otherH2088; for the one whofearsH3372Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430comesH3318forthH3318withbothכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605of them.

19Wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451strengthensתָּעֹ֣זta.'OzH5810a wiseלֶחָכָ֑םle.cha.KhamH2450manH2450moreH4480thanH4480tenמֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙me.'a.sa.RahH6235rulersשַׁלִּיטִ֔יםsha.li.TimH7989whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834are in a cityבָּעִֽיר׃ba.'IrH5892.

20Indeedכִּ֣יkiH3588,thereאֵ֥ין'einH369is not a righteousצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120on earthבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834continuallydoesיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213goodטּ֖וֹבTovH2896and who neverוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808sinsיֶחֱטָֽא׃ye.che.Ta'H2398.

21Alsoגַּ֤םgamH1571, do nottakeתִּתֵּ֖ןti.TenH5414seriouslyלִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaH3820allלְכָל־le.kholH3605wordsהַדְּבָרִים֙ha.de.va.RimH1697whichH834are spokenיְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruH1696,soלֹֽא־lo'-H3808that you will not hearתִשְׁמַ֥עtish.Ma'H8085your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650cursingמְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃me.ka.Le.chaH7043you.

22Foryou alsoגַּם־gam-H1571have realizedיָדַ֣עya.Da'H3045that you likewiseגַּם־gam-H1571have manyרַבּ֖וֹתra.BotH7227timesפְּעָמִ֥יםpe.'a.MimH6471cursedקִלַּ֥לְתָּki.Lal.taH7043othersאֲחֵרִֽים׃'a.che.RimH312.

23I testedנִסִּ֣יתִיni.Si.tiH5254allכָּל־kol-H3605thisזֹ֖הzohH2090with wisdomבַֽחָכְמָ֑הva.cha.khe.MahH2451, andI saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559, “I will be wiseאֶחְכָּ֔מָה'ech.Ka.mahH2449,”but it was farרְחוֹקָ֥הre.cho.KahH7350from me.

24Whatמַה־mah-H4100has beenשֶּׁהָיָ֑הshe.ha.YahH1961is remoteרָח֖וֹקra.ChokH7350andexceedinglyוְעָמֹ֥ק׀ve.'a.MokH6013mysteriousעָמֹ֖ק'a.MokH6013.Whoמִ֥יmiH4310can discoverיִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃yim.tza.'E.nuH4672it?

25Idirectedסַבּ֨וֹתִֽיsa.Bo.tiH5437mymindוְלִבִּי֙ve.li.BiH3820to knowלָדַ֣עַתla.Da.'atH3045,to investigateוְלָת֔וּרve.la.TurH8446and to seekוּבַקֵּ֥שׁu.va.KeshH1245wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451and an explanationוְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹןve.chesh.BonH2808,and to knowוְלָדַ֙עַת֙ve.la.Da.'atH3045the evilרֶ֣שַׁעRe.sha'H7562of follyH3689and the foolishnessH3689of madnessהוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃ho.le.LotH1947.

26And I discoveredוּמוֹצֶ֨אu.mo.Tze'H4672moreH4480bitterמַ֣רmarH4751thanH4480deathמִמָּ֗וֶתmi.Ma.vetH4194the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834heartלִבָּ֖הּli.BahH3820issnaresמְצוֹדִ֧יםme.tzo.DimH4685and netsוַחֲרָמִ֛יםva.cha.ra.MimH2764,whose handsיָדֶ֑יהָya.Dei.haH3027are chainsאֲסוּרִ֣ים'a.su.RimH612.OneH2896whoH2896is pleasingH2896to Godהָאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430will escapeיִמָּלֵ֣טyi.ma.LetH4422from her, butthe sinnerוְחוֹטֵ֖אve.cho.Te'H2398will be capturedיִלָּ֥כֶדyi.La.khedH3920by her.

27“Beholdרְאֵה֙re.'EhH7200,I have discoveredמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672thisזֶ֣הzehH2088,”saysאָמְרָ֖ה'a.me.RahH559the Preacherקֹהֶ֑לֶתko.He.letH6953, “addingoneH259thingH259to anotherH259to findלִמְצֹ֥אlim.Tzo'H4672an explanationחֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃chesh.BonH2808,

28whichאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834I am stillעוֹד־'od-H5750seekingבִּקְשָׁ֥הbik.ShahH1245but have not foundמָצָ֑אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672.I have foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672oneאֶחָ֤ד'e.ChadH259manאָדָ֞ם'a.DamH120amongH4480a thousandמֵאֶ֙לֶף֙me.'E.lefH505,but I have not foundמָצָֽאתִי׃ma.Tza.tiH4672awomanוְאִשָּׁ֥הve.'i.ShahH802among allבְכָל־ve.khol-H3605theseאֵ֖לֶּה'E.lehH428.

29Beholdרְאֵה־re.'eh-H7200,I have foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672onlyלְבַד֙le.VadH905thisזֶ֣הzehH2088, thatGodהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430madeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213menהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120uprightיָשָׁ֑רya.SharH3477,but they have soughtבִקְשׁ֖וּvik.ShuH1245out manyרַבִּֽים׃ra.BimH7227devicesחִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹתchi.she.vo.NotH2810.”

Wisdom and Folly Contrasted

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7