Ecclesiastes 7 קֹהֶלֶת

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

¹ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃

tov shem mishemen tov veyom hammavet miyyom hivvaldo

A good name is better than precious oil; And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

²ט֞וֹב לָלֶ֣כֶת אֶל־בֵּֽית־אֵ֗בֶל מִלֶּ֨כֶת֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה בַּאֲשֶׁ֕ר ה֖וּא ס֣וֹף כָּל־הָאָדָ֑ם וְהַחַ֖י יִתֵּ֥ן אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃

tov lalekhet el-bet-evel millekhet el-bet mishte ba'asher hu sof kal-ha'adam vehachay yitten el-libbo

It 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.

³ט֥וֹב כַּ֖עַס מִשְּׂחֹ֑ק כִּֽי־בְרֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב׃

tov ka'as missechok ki-veroa panim yitav lev

Vexation is better than laughter; For by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

⁴לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה׃

lev chakhamim bevet evel velev kesilim bevet simcha

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

⁵ט֕וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ גַּעֲרַ֣ת חָכָ֑ם מֵאִ֕ישׁ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ שִׁ֥יר כְּסִילִֽים׃

tov lishmoa ga'arat chakham me'ish shomea shir kesilim

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

⁶כִּ֣י כְק֤וֹל הַסִּירִים֙ תַּ֣חַת הַסִּ֔יר כֵּ֖ן שְׂחֹ֣ק הַכְּסִ֑יל וְגַם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

ki khekol hassirim tachat hassir ken sechok hakkesil vegam-ze havel

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.

⁷כִּ֥י הָעֹ֖שֶׁק יְהוֹלֵ֣ל חָכָ֑ם וִֽיאַבֵּ֥ד אֶת־לֵ֖ב מַתָּנָֽה׃

ki ha'oshek yeholel chakham vi'abbed et-lev mattana

Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; And a gift destroyeth the understanding.

⁸ט֛וֹב אַחֲרִ֥ית דָּבָ֖ר מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹ ט֥וֹב אֶֽרֶךְ־ר֖וּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רֽוּחַ׃

tov acharit davar mereshito tov erekh-ruach miggevah-ruach

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

⁹אַל־תְּבַהֵ֥ל בְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖ לִכְע֑וֹס כִּ֣י כַ֔עַס בְּחֵ֥יק כְּסִילִ֖ים יָנֽוּחַ׃

al-tevahel beruchakha likh'os ki kha'as bechek kesilim yanuach

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; For anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰אַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחָכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃

al-tomar me haya shehayyamim harishonim hayu tovim me'elle ki lo mechakhma sha'alta al-ze

Say not thou: ‘How was it that the former days were better than these?’ for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.

¹¹טוֹבָ֥ה חָכְמָ֖ה עִֽם־נַחֲלָ֑ה וְיֹתֵ֖ר לְרֹאֵ֥י הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

tova chakhma im-nachala veyoter lero'e hashamesh

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, Yea, a profit to them that see the sun.

¹²כִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה בְּצֵ֣ל הַכָּ֑סֶף וְיִתְר֣וֹן דַּ֔עַת הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה תְּחַיֶּ֥ה בְעָלֶֽיהָ׃

ki betzel hachakhma betzel hakkasef veyitron da'at hachakhma techayye ve'aleha

For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

¹³רְאֵ֖ה אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לְתַקֵּ֔ן אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִוְּתֽוֹ׃

re'e et-ma'ase ha'elohim ki mi yukhal letakken et asher ivveto

Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?

¹⁴בְּי֤וֹם טוֹבָה֙ הֱיֵ֣ה בְט֔וֹב וּבְי֥וֹם רָעָ֖ה רְאֵ֑ה גַּ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֤ה לְעֻמַּת־זֶה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־דִּבְרַ֗ת שֶׁלֹּ֨א יִמְצָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם אַחֲרָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה׃

beyom tova heye vetov uveyom ra'a re'e gam et-ze le'ummat-ze asa ha'elohim al-divrat shello yimtza ha'adam acharav meuma

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

¹⁵אֶת־הַכֹּ֥ל רָאִ֖יתִי בִּימֵ֣י הֶבְלִ֑י יֵ֤שׁ צַדִּיק֙ אֹבֵ֣ד בְּצִדְק֔וֹ וְיֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֔ע מַאֲרִ֖יךְ בְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃

et-hakkol ra'iti bime hevli yesh tzaddik oved betzidko veyesh rasha' ma'arikh bera'ato

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.

¹⁶אַל־תְּהִ֤י צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם יוֹתֵ֑ר לָ֖מָּה תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃

al-tehi tzaddik harbe ve'al-titchakkam yoter lamma tishomem

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷אַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃

al-tirsha' harbe ve'al-tehi sakhal lamma tamut belo ittekha

Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸ט֚וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז בָּזֶ֔ה וְגַם־מִזֶּ֖ה אַל־תַּנַּ֣ח אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֵצֵ֥א אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

tov asher te'echoz baze vegam-mizze al-tannach et-yadekha ki-yere elohim yetze et-kullam

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

¹⁹הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה תָּעֹ֣ז לֶחָכָ֑ם מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ בָּעִֽיר׃

hachakhma ta'oz lechakham me'asara shallitim asher hayu ba'ir

Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

²⁰כִּ֣י אָדָ֔ם אֵ֥ין צַדִּ֖יק בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂה־טּ֖וֹב וְלֹ֥א יֶחֱטָֽא׃

ki adam en tzaddik ba'aretz asher ya'ase-tov velo yecheta

For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

²¹גַּ֤ם לְכָל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ אַל־תִּתֵּ֖ן לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֥ע אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃

gam lekhal-haddevarim asher yedabberu al-titten libbekha asher lo-tishma' et-avdekha mekallekha

Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

²²כִּ֛י גַּם־פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת יָדַ֣ע לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גַּם־את [אַתָּ֖ה] קִלַּ֥לְתָּ אֲחֵרִֽים׃

ki gam-pe'amim rabbot yada' libbekha asher gam-atta killalta acherim

for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

²³כָּל־זֹ֖ה נִסִּ֣יתִי בַֽחָכְמָ֑ה אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֶחְכָּ֔מָה וְהִ֖יא רְחוֹקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

kal-zo nissiti vachakhma amarti echkama vehi rechoka mimmenni

All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: ‘I will get wisdom’; but it was far from me.

²⁴רָח֖וֹק מַה־שֶּׁהָיָ֑ה וְעָמֹ֥ק ׀ עָמֹ֖ק מִ֥י יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃

rachok ma-shehaya ve'amok amok mi yimtza'ennu

That which is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

²⁵סַבּ֨וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֤י וְלִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת וְלָת֔וּר וּבַקֵּ֥שׁ חָכְמָ֖ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וְלָדַ֨עַת֙ רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת הוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃

sabboti ani velibbi lada'at velatur uvakkesh chakhma vecheshbon velada'at resha' kesel vehassikhlut holelot

I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

²⁶וּמוֹצֶ֨א אֲנִ֜י מַ֣ר מִמָּ֗וֶת אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֨יא מְצוֹדִ֧ים וַחֲרָמִ֛ים לִבָּ֖הּ אֲסוּרִ֣ים יָדֶ֑יהָ ט֞וֹב לִפְנֵ֤י הָאֱלֹהִים֙ יִמָּלֵ֣ט מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְחוֹטֵ֖א יִלָּ֥כֶד בָּֽהּ׃

umotze ani mar mimmavet et-ha'isha asher-hi metzodim vacharamim libbah asurim yadeha tov lifne ha'elohim yimmalet mimmenna vechote yillakhed bah

and 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.

²⁷רְאֵה֙ זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אָמְרָ֖ה קֹהֶ֑לֶת אַחַ֥ת לְאַחַ֖ת לִמְצֹ֥א חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃

re'e ze matzati amra kohelet achat le'achat limtzo cheshbon

Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;

²⁸אֲשֶׁ֛ר עוֹד־בִּקְשָׁ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אתִי אָדָ֞ם אֶחָ֤ד מֵאֶ֨לֶף֙ מָצָ֔אתִי וְאִשָּׁ֥ה בְכָל־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֥א מָצָֽאתִי׃

asher od-biksha nafshi velo matzati adam echad me'elef matzati ve'isha vekhal-elle lo matzati

which yet my soul sought, but I found not; one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

²⁹לְבַד֙ רְאֵה־זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאָדָ֖ם יָשָׁ֑ר וְהֵ֥מָּה בִקְשׁ֖וּ חִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹת רַבִּֽים׃

levad re'e-ze matzati asher asa ha'elohim et-ha'adam yashar vehemma vikshu chishevonot rabbim

Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

World Messianic Bible (English numbering)

¹A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s 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 should take this to heart.

³Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

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 extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

⁸Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

⁹Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

¹¹Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

¹²For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

¹³Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?

¹⁴In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

¹⁵All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

¹⁶Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

¹⁷Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

¹⁸It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

¹⁹Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

²⁰Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.

²¹Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

²²for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

²³All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.

²⁴That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

²⁵I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

²⁶I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

²⁷“Behold, I have found this,” says Kohelet, “to one another, to find an explanation

²⁸which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.

²⁹Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”

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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.

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Ecclesiastes 7 קֹהֶלֶת

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

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