Ecclesiastes (Kohelet)

The end ofa thing is better than its beginning. Patience is better than pride. 8 Donot be so quick to anger, for anger lies in the lap of the fool. Do not say, 3 “What went wrong, that times gone by were better than these?” It is not wisdom that brings you to ask. Wisdom is better with an estate, though it profits all who see the sun. For 11 a man in the shade of wisdom is in the shade of money too; and the profit | of understanding is greater, for wisdom brings life to those who master it. | Look at the word of God; for nobody can straighten what He has made 13 crooked. On a good day, live goodness, and on a bad day look and see: 14 God has made both things, one alongside the other; and no man can find fault with Him after. 1s [have seen it all in the days of my shallow breath; righteous men who die in their righteousness, and wicked ones who live long in their wickedness. So do not be too righteous, do not be so much wiser; for why should 16 you become desolate? Do not be too wicked, and never be a fool, for 17 why should you die before your time? Better to hold the one part, never 18 loosening your hand upon the other; for a God-fearing man will escape both dangers. Wisdom gives the wise man more power than ten rulers in 19 a city. Yes, there is no one in this world so righteous that he does good and never 20 sins. Do not take to heart all the words you hear said; do not overhear it 21 when your slave insults you. For many times, as your heart well knows, you 22 yourself have insulted others. I tried all this with my wisdom. I said, “I shall be wiser”; but it was far away 23 from me. All that has been is far away, deep, deep beyond fathoming. I turned, 24 Land my mind, to understand and to explore and seek wisdom and reason; and to know the wickedness of foolishness, to know folly and delirium. And 26 this is what I found: woman is more bitter than death, for she is all traps, with nets laid in her heart; her arms are a prison; one favored by God escapes her, whileasinner becomes entrapped. See what I found, said Kohelet, searching 27 one by one to find by reason. This too my soul sought and did not find: one 28 manina thousand 1 found; but even one such woman I did not. Yes, all that 29 I found is this; that God created man straightforward; but they go seeking endless inventions. Who is like a wise man, able to see meaning? The wisdom a person has 81 lights up his face, and the pride in his face is changed. Obey the king’s word, 2