Ecclesiastes 7
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Revised Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 7

1A good nameשֵׁ֖םshemH8034isbetterט֥וֹבTovH2896than preciousט֑וֹבTovH2896ointmentמִשֶּׁ֣מֶןmi.She.menH8081;and the dayוְי֣וֹםve.YomH3117of deathהַמָּ֔וֶתha.Ma.vetH4194than the dayמִיּ֖וֹםmi.YomH3117of one’s birthהִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃hi.val.DoH3205.
2It isbetterט֞וֹבTovH2896to goH3212to the houseבֵּֽית־beit-H1004of mourningאֵ֗בֶל'E.velH60,than to goH3212to the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of feastingמִשְׁתֶּ֔הmish.TehH4960:forבַּאֲשֶׁ֕רba.'a.SherH834that isthe endס֣וֹףSofH5490of all menהָאָדָ֑םha.'a.DamH120;and the livingוְהַחַ֖יve.ha.ChaiH2416will layיִתֵּ֥ןyi.TenH5414itto his heartלִבּֽוֹ׃li.BoH3820.
3Sorrowכַּ֖עַסKa.'asH3708isbetterט֥וֹבTovH2896than laughterמִשְּׂחֹ֑קmi.se.ChokH7814:for by the sadnessבְרֹ֥עַve.Ro.a'H7455of the countenanceפָּנִ֖יםpa.NimH6440the heartלֵֽב׃LevH3820is made betterיִ֥יטַבYi.tavH3190.
4The heartלֵ֤בlevH3820of the wiseחֲכָמִים֙cha.kha.MimH2450isin the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004of mourningאֵ֔בֶל'E.velH60;but the heartוְלֵ֥בve.LevH3820of foolsכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684isin the houseבְּבֵ֥יתbe.VeitH1004of mirthשִׂמְחָֽה׃sim.ChahH8057.
5It isbetterט֕וֹבTovH2896to hearלִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'H8085the rebukeגַּעֲרַ֣תga.'a.RatH1606of the wiseחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450,than for a manמֵאִ֕ישׁme.'IshH376to hearשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085the songשִׁ֥ירshirH7892of foolsכְּסִילִֽים׃ke.si.LimH3684.
6For as the cracklingכְק֤וֹלkhe.KolH6963of thornsהַסִּירִים֙ha.si.RimH5518under a potהַסִּ֔ירha.SirH5518, so isthe laughterשְׂחֹ֣קse.ChokH7814of the foolהַכְּסִ֑ילha.ke.SilH3684: this also isvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.
7Surely oppressionהָעֹ֖שֶׁקha.'O.shekH6233maketh a wise manחָכָ֑םcha.KhamH2450madיְהוֹלֵ֣לye.ho.LelH1984;and a giftמַתָּנָֽה׃ma.ta.NahH4979destroyethוִֽיאַבֵּ֥דvi.'a.BedH6the heartלֵ֖בlevH3820.
8Betterט֛וֹבTovH2896isthe endאַחֲרִ֥ית'a.cha.RitH319of a thingדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697than the beginningמֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹme.re.shi.ToH7225thereof: andthe patientאֶֽרֶךְ־'e.rekh-H750in spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307isbetterט֥וֹבTovH2896than the proudH1362in spiritרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.
9Be not hastyתְּבַהֵ֥לte.va.HelH926in thy spiritבְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖be.ru.cha.KhaH7307to be angryלִכְע֑וֹסlikh.'osH3707:for angerכַ֔עַסKha.'asH3708restethיָנֽוּחַ׃ya.Nu.achH5117in the bosomבְּחֵ֥יקbe.CheikH2436of foolsכְּסִילִ֖יםke.si.LimH3684.
10Sayתֹּאמַר֙to.MarH559not thou, What is the causethat the formerהָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔יםha.Ri.sho.NimH7223daysשֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙she.hai.ya.mimH3117were betterטוֹבִ֖יםto.VimH2896than these? for thou dost not enquireשָׁאַ֥לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592wiselyמֵחָכְמָ֖הme.cha.khe.MahH2451concerning this.
11Wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451isgoodטוֹבָ֥הto.VahH2896with an inheritanceנַחֲלָ֑הna.cha.LahH5159: and by it there isprofitוְיֹתֵ֖רve.yo.TerH3148to them that seeלְרֹאֵ֥יle.ro.'EiH7200the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.
12For wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451isa defenceבְּצֵ֥לbe.TzelH6738, andmoneyהַכָּ֑סֶףha.Ka.sefH3701isa defenceבְּצֵ֣לbe.TzelH6738:but the excellencyוְיִתְר֣וֹןve.yit.RonH3504of knowledgeדַּ֔עַתDa.'atH1847is, thatwisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451giveth lifeתְּחַיֶּ֥הte.chai.YehH2421to them that haveבְעָלֶֽיהָ׃ve.'a.Lei.haH1167it.
13Considerרְאֵ֖הre.'EhH7200the workמַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.SehH4639of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430:for who canיוּכַל֙yu.KhalH3201make thatstraightלְתַקֵּ֔ןle.ta.KenH8626,which he hath made crookedעִוְּתֽוֹ׃i.ve.ToH5791?
14In the dayבְּי֤וֹםbe.YomH3117of prosperityטוֹבָה֙to.VahH2896be joyfulבְט֔וֹבve.TovH2896,but in the dayוּבְי֥וֹםu.ve.YomH3117of adversityרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451considerרְאֵ֑הre.'EhH7200:Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430also hath setעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213the one over againstלְעֻמַּת־le.'u.mat-H5980the other, to the endדִּבְרַ֗תdiv.RatH1700that manהָֽאָדָ֛םha.'a.DamH120should findיִמְצָ֧אyim.Tza'H4672nothingמְאֽוּמָה׃me.'U.mahH3972afterאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310him.
15All thingshave I seenרָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiH7200in the daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117of my vanityהֶבְלִ֑יhev.LiH1892:there isH3426a justצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662manthat perishethאֹבֵ֣ד'o.VedH6in his righteousnessבְּצִדְק֔וֹbe.tzid.KoH6664,and there is a wickedרָשָׁ֔עra.Sha'H7563manthat prolongethמַאֲרִ֖יךְma.'a.RikhH748his lifein his wickednessבְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃be.ra.'a.ToH7451.
16Be not righteousצַדִּיק֙tza.DikH6662over muchהַרְבֵּ֔הhar.BehH7235;neither make thyself overיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseתִּתְחַכַּ֖םtit.cha.KamH2449:why shouldest thou destroyתִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ti.sho.MemH8074thyself?
17Be not over muchהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235wickedתִּרְשַׁ֥עtir.Sha'H7561,neither be thou foolishסָכָ֑לsa.KhalH5530:why shouldest thou dieתָמ֖וּתta.MutH4191before thy timeעִתֶּֽךָ׃'i.Te.khaH6256?
18It isgoodט֚וֹבTovH2896that thou shouldest take holdתֶּאֱחֹ֣זte.'e.ChozH270of this; yea, also from thisH2088withdrawH3240not thine handיָדֶ֑ךָya.De.khaH3027:for he that fearethיְרֵ֥אye.Re'H3373Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430shall come forthיֵצֵ֥אye.Tze'H3318of them all.
19Wisdomהַֽחָכְמָ֖הha.cha.khe.MahH2451strengthenethתָּעֹ֣זta.'OzH5810the wiseלֶחָכָ֑םle.cha.KhamH2450more than tenמֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙me.'a.sa.RahH6235mightyשַׁלִּיטִ֔יםsha.li.TimH7989menwhich are in the cityבָּעִֽיר׃ba.'IrH5892.
20For there isnot a justצַדִּ֖יקtza.DikH6662manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120upon earthבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776,that doethיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213goodטּ֖וֹבTovH2896,and sinnethיֶחֱטָֽא׃ye.che.Ta'H2398not.
21Also takeתִּתֵּ֖ןti.TenH5414no heedלִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaH3820unto all wordsהַדְּבָרִים֙ha.de.va.RimH1697that are spokenיְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruH1696;lest thou hearתִשְׁמַ֥עtish.Ma'H8085thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650curseמְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃me.ka.Le.chaH7043thee:
22For oftentimesפְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹתpe.'a.Mim ra.BotH7227H6471also thine own heartלִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaH3820knowethיָדַ֣עya.Da'H3045that thou thyself likewise hast cursedקִלַּ֥לְתָּki.Lal.taH7043othersאֲחֵרִֽים׃'a.che.RimH312.
23All thisזֹ֖הzohH2090have I provedנִסִּ֣יתִיni.Si.tiH5254by wisdomבַֽחָכְמָ֑הva.cha.khe.MahH2451:I saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559,I will be wiseאֶחְכָּ֔מָה'ech.Ka.mahH2449; but it wasfarרְחוֹקָ֥הre.cho.KahH7350from me.
24That which is far offרָח֖וֹקra.ChokH7350,and exceeding deepH6013,who can find it outיִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃yim.tza.'E.nuH4672?
25I appliedסַבּ֨וֹתִֽיsa.Bo.tiH5437mine heartוְלִבִּי֙ve.li.BiH3820to knowלָדַ֣עַתla.Da.'atH3045,and to searchוְלָת֔וּרve.la.TurH8446,and to seek outוּבַקֵּ֥שׁu.va.KeshH1245wisdomחָכְמָ֖הchokh.mahH2451,and the reasonוְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹןve.chesh.BonH2808of things,and to knowוְלָדַ֙עַת֙ve.la.Da.'atH3045the wickednessרֶ֣שַׁעRe.sha'H7562of follyכֶּ֔סֶלKe.selH3689,even of foolishnessוְהַסִּכְל֖וּתve.ha.sikh.LutH5531andmadnessהוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃ho.le.LotH1947:
26And I findוּמוֹצֶ֨אu.mo.Tze'H4672more bitterמַ֣רmarH4751than deathמִמָּ֗וֶתmi.Ma.vetH4194the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802,whose heartלִבָּ֖הּli.BahH3820issnaresמְצוֹדִ֧יםme.tzo.DimH4685and netsוַחֲרָמִ֛יםva.cha.ra.MimH2764, andher handsיָדֶ֑יהָya.Dei.haH3027asbandsאֲסוּרִ֣ים'a.su.RimH612:whoso pleasethט֞וֹב לִפְנֵ֤יTov lif.NeiH6440H2896Godהָאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430shall escapeיִמָּלֵ֣טyi.ma.LetH4422from her; but the sinnerוְחוֹטֵ֖אve.cho.Te'H2398shall be takenיִלָּ֥כֶדyi.La.khedH3920by her.
27Beholdרְאֵה֙re.'EhH7200,this have I foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672,saithאָמְרָ֖ה'a.me.RahH559the preacherקֹהֶ֑לֶתko.He.letH6953, countingoneאַחַ֥ת'a.ChatH259by oneלְאַחַ֖תle.'a.ChatH259,to find outלִמְצֹ֥אlim.Tzo'H4672the accountחֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃chesh.BonH2808:
28Which yet my soulנַפְשִׁ֖יnaf.ShiH5315seekethבִּקְשָׁ֥הbik.ShahH1245,but I findמָצָ֑אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672not: oneאֶחָ֤ד'e.ChadH259manאָדָ֞ם'a.DamH120among a thousandמֵאֶ֙לֶף֙me.'E.lefH505have I foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672;but a womanוְאִשָּׁ֥הve.'i.ShahH802among all those have I not foundמָצָֽאתִי׃ma.Tza.tiH4672.
29Loרְאֵה־re.'eh-H7200,this onlyלְבַד֙le.VadH905have I foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672,that Godהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430hath madeעָשָׂ֧ה'a.SahH6213manהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120uprightיָשָׁ֑רya.SharH3477;but they have sought outבִקְשׁ֖וּvik.ShuH1245manyרַבִּֽים׃ra.BimH7227inventionsחִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹתchi.she.vo.NotH2810.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7

Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL