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Ecclesiastes 7
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7
New International Version
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(A)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(C) is the destiny(D) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(E)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(F)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(G) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(H) under the pot,
so is the laughter(I) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(J) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(K) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(L) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(M)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(N) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(O)
and benefits those who see the sun.(P)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(Q)
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked?(R)
14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.(S)
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
15 In this meaningless life(T) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(U)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?(V)
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God(W) will avoid all extremes.[a]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(Z)
no one who does what is right and never sins.(AA)
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you(AB) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”(AC)—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?(AD)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things(AE)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.(AF)
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,(AG)
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare.(AH)
27 “Look,” says the Teacher,[b](AI) “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman(AJ) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or the leader of the assembly
Ecclesiastes 7
King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7
King James Version
7 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 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.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26 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.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Ecclesiastes 7
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Ecclesiastes 7
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
7 A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
2 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 heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.(A)
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth and sensual joy.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!
7 Surely oppression and extortion make a wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding and judgment.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Do not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.(B)
10 Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise or because of wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yes, more excellent it is for those [the living] who see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him.
15 I have seen everything in the days of my vanity (my emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility): there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in [spite of] his evildoing.
16 Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise—why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?
17 [Although all have sinned] be not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish—why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you should take hold of this and from that withdraw not your hand; for he who [reverently] fears and worships God will come forth from them all.
19 [True] wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers or valiant generals who are in the city.(C)
20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins.(D)
21 Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you—
22 For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.
23 All this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise [independently of God]—but it was far from me.
24 That which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep—who can find it out [true wisdom independent of the fear of God]?(E)
25 I turned about [penitent] and my heart was set to know and to search out and to seek [true] wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [and what had led me into such wickedness and madness].
26 And I found that [of all sinful follies none has been so ruinous in seducing one away from God as idolatrous women] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bands. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this I have found, says the Preacher, while weighing one thing after another to find out the right estimate [and the reason]—
28 Which I am still seeking but have not found—one upright man among a thousand have I found, but an upright woman among all those [one thousand in my harem] have I not found.(F)
29 Behold, this is the only [reason for it that] I have found: God made man upright, but they [men and women] have sought out many devices [for evil].
Giáo Huấn 7
New Vietnamese Bible
Giáo Huấn 7
New Vietnamese Bible
Điều Tốt Cho Loài Người
7 Danh thơm tiếng tốt hơn dầu quí giá,
Ngày chết hơn ngày sinh.
2 Đến nhà tang chế
Hơn đến nhà yến tiệc,
Vì ai rồi cũng phải chết;
Vậy người sống hãy để tâm suy gẫm thân phận mình.
3 Buồn rầu tốt hơn đùa giỡn,
Vì kinh nghiệm đau buồn mở mang tâm trí.
4 Người khôn ngoan để tâm nghĩ đến sự chết,
Kẻ ngu dại chỉ nghĩ đến vui chơi.
5 Nghe người khôn ngoan khuyên dạy
Tốt hơn là nghe tiếng ca hát của kẻ dại khờ,
6 Vì tiếng cười của kẻ dại
Khác nào tiếng nổ lách tách của gai gốc đốt cháy dưới nồi,
Trống rỗng, không có ý nghĩa gì?
7 Khi bị ức hiếp, người khôn có thể hóa dại,
Và của hối lộ làm mờ tâm trí.
8 Kết thúc một việc tốt hơn khởi đầu việc ấy;
Kiên nhẫn hơn kiêu căng.
9 Đừng vội nóng giận,
Vì cơn giận dữ chờ sẵn trong lòng kẻ dại.
10 Đừng hỏi: “Sao thời trước tốt hơn thời nay?”
Vì hỏi như vậy là thiếu khôn ngoan.
11 Sự khôn ngoan quí giá như thừa hưởng gia tài điền sản,
Và đem lại lợi ích lâu dài cho người sống trên đời.[a]
12 Cũng như tiền bạc,
Sự khôn ngoan như bóng che thân,
Nhưng sự hiểu biết của người khôn ngoan có ích lợi lâu dài hơn,
Vì nhờ sự khôn ngoan mà bảo tồn được mạng sống mình.
13 Hãy suy ngẫm công việc của Đức Chúa Trời;
Vật Ngài bẻ cong
Ai làm thẳng lại được?
14 Gặp thời thịnh vượng, hãy vui hưởng;
Nhưng khi sa cơ thất thế, hãy suy nghiệm.
Phước hay họa
Đều do Đức Chúa Trời định cái này kế tiếp cái kia,
Loài người không có cớ gì
Phiền trách được Ngài.[b]
Sự Khôn Ngoan So Với Sự Công Chính Và Gian Ác
15 Suốt đời tôi, tôi đã nhìn thấy biết bao nhiêu điều khó hiểu.
Có người công chính, trung tín vâng theo lời Đức Chúa Trời nhưng lại chết yểu;
Cũng có kẻ làm ác, nhưng lại sống lâu.
16 Có người khuyên: Đừng tỏ ra công chính thái quá,
Cũng đừng tỏ ra quá khôn ngoan.
Sao lại phải chuốc lấy thiệt hại cho mình?
17 Đừng theo đường gian ác,
Cũng đừng sống dại khờ.
Tại sao phải chết trước kỳ định?
18 Tốt nhất là tránh tự cho mình là công chính hoặc khôn ngoan,
Và tích cực chống điều gian ác,
Vì người nào kính sợ Đức Chúa Trời sẽ giữ trọn cả hai.[c]
19 Một người nhờ khôn ngoan mà có thế lực
Hơn cả mười người cầm quyền trong hội đồng thành phố.
20 Thật ra, trên đời này, không có một người công chính nào luôn làm điều phải
Và không hề phạm tội.
21 Vậy, đừng chú tâm đến mọi lời đàm tiếu,
Kẻo con nghe lời đầy tớ mình nguyền rủa.
22 Vì con tự biết trong lòng rằng
Chính con cũng đã nhiều lần nguyền rủa kẻ khác.
23 Tôi cậy sự khôn ngoan xét nghiệm mọi điều trên. Tôi tự nhủ:
“Tôi sẽ nhờ các nguyên tắc khôn ngoan tìm được câu giải đáp.”
Nhưng câu giải đáp vẫn còn xa cách tôi.
24 Mọi việc xảy ra đều sâu xa, huyền nhiệm,
Trí óc con người làm sao thấu triệt được?
Suy Ngẫm Về Loài Người
25 Tôi lại quyết tâm tìm hiểu, khảo sát, và tra cứu sự khôn ngoan cùng nguyên lý của muôn vật. Tôi nhận ra được gian ác là thiếu sáng suốt và ngu dốt là điên rồ. 26 Tôi thường nhận thấy đàn bà lòng đầy cạm bẫy gây nhiều cay đắng hơn cả sự chết. Tình nàng như bẫy lưới, vòng tay nàng như dây xích. Người nào đẹp lòng Đức Chúa Trời thoát khỏi tay nàng, còn tội nhân rơi vào bẫy nàng. 27 Người Truyền Đạo nói: “Này là điều tôi tìm thấy. Tôi gom góp từng việc một để tìm ra nguyên lý muôn vật.
28 Tôi chuyên lòng tìm hiểu, nhưng vẫn chưa hiểu được ý nghĩa câu phương ngôn:
‘Trong số ngàn người nam, tôi tìm được một người,
Còn trong số ngàn người nữ tôi chẳng tìm được một ai.’
29 Này, điều duy nhất tôi tìm thấy,
Ấy là Đức Chúa Trời dựng nên loài người ngay thẳng,
Nhưng chính họ đã nảy sinh ra lắm mưu kế.”
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
New Vietnamese Bible (NVB)
New Vietnamese Bible. Used by permission of VBI (www.nvbible.org)