Ecclesiastes 7 #catechesis/bible/ecclesiastes
[!abstract] Prescriptions against worldly vanities: mortification, patience, and seeking wisdom.
Book: Ecclesiastes · ← Ecclesiastes 6 · Ecclesiastes 8 →
1
GR ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἡμέρα τοῦ θανάτου ὑπὲρ ἡμέραν γενέσεως αὐτοῦ
LA Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.
EN A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
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2
GR ἀγαθὸν πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πένθους ἢ ὅτι πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πότου καθότι τοῦτο τέλος παντὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ ὁ ζῶν δώσει εἰς καρδίαν αὐτοῦ
LA Melius est ire ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii; in illa enim finis cunctorum admonetur hominum, et vivens cogitat quid futurum sit.
EN It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinks what is to come.
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3
GR ἀγαθὸν θυμὸς ὑπὲρ γέλωτα ὅτι ἐν κακίᾳ προσώπου ἀγαθυνθήσεται καρδία
LA Melior est ira risu, quia per tristitiam vultus corrigitur animus delinquentis.
EN Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
^3
[!note]- Anger…
That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
4
GR καρδία σοφῶν ἐν οἴκῳ πένθους καὶ καρδία ἀφρόνων ἐν οἴκῳ εὐφροσύνης
LA Cor sapientium ubi tristitia est, et cor stultorum ubi lætitia.
EN The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
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GR ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀκοῦσαι ἐπιτίμησιν σοφοῦ ὑπὲρ ἄνδρα ἀκούοντα ᾆσμα ἀφρόνων
LA Melius est a sapiente corripi, quam stultorum adulatione decipi;
EN It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
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GR ὅτι ὡς φωνὴ τῶν ἀκανθῶν ὑπὸ τὸν λέβητα οὕτως γέλως τῶν ἀφρόνων καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης
LA quia sicut sonitus spinarum ardentium sub olla, sic risus stulti. Sed et hoc vanitas.
EN For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
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GR ὅτι ἡ συκοφαντία περιφέρει σοφὸν καὶ ἀπόλλυσι τὴν καρδίαν εὐτονίας αὐτοῦ
LA Calumnia conturbat sapientem, et perdet robur cordis illius.
EN Oppression troubles the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
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8
GR ἀγαθὴ ἐσχάτη λόγων ὑπὲρ ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν μακρόθυμος ὑπὲρ ὑψηλὸν πνεύματι
LA Melior est finis orationis quam principium. Melior est patiens arrogante.
EN Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
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GR μὴ σπεύσῃς ἐν πνεύματί σου τοῦ θυμοῦσθαι ὅτι θυμὸς ἐν κόλπῳ ἀφρόνων ἀναπαύσεται
LA Ne sis velox ad irascendum, quia ira in sinu stulti requiescit.
EN Be not quickly angry: for anger rests in the bosom of a fool.
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10
GR μὴ εἴπῃς τί ἐγένετο ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι αἱ πρότεραι ἦσαν ἀγαθαὶ ὑπὲρ ταύτας ὅτι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐπηρώτησας περὶ τούτου
LA Ne dicas: Quid putas causæ est quod priora tempora meliora fuere quam nunc sunt? stulta enim est hujuscemodi interrogatio.
EN Say not: What do you think is the cause that former times were better than they are now? For this manner of question is foolish.
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GR ἀγαθὴ σοφία μετὰ κληροδοσίας καὶ περισσεία τοῖς θεωροῦσιν τὸν ἥλιον
LA Utilior est sapientia cum divitiis, et magis prodest videntibus solem.
EN Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and brings more advantage to them that see the sun.
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GR ὅτι ἐν σκιᾷ αὐτῆς ἡ σοφία ὡς σκιὰ τοῦ ἀργυρίου καὶ περισσεία γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας ζωοποιήσει τὸν παρ’ αὐτῆς
LA Sicut enim protegit sapientia, sic protegit pecunia; hoc autem plus habet eruditio et sapientia, quod vitam tribuunt possessori suo.
EN For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesses them.
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GR ἰδὲ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι τίς δυνήσεται τοῦ κοσμῆσαι ὃν ἂν ὁ θεὸς διαστρέψῃ αὐτόν
LA Considera opera Dei, quod nemo possit corrigere quem ille despexerit.
EN Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he has despised.
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14
GR ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθωσύνης ζῆθι ἐν ἀγαθῷ καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακίας ἰδέ καί γε σὺν τοῦτο σύμφωνον τούτῳ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς περὶ λαλιᾶς ἵνα μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ μηδέν
LA In die bona fruere bonis, et malam diem præcave; sicut enim hanc, sic et illam fecit Deus, ut non inveniat homo contra eum justas querimonias.
EN In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God has made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
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GR σὺν τὰ πάντα εἶδον ἐν ἡμέραις ματαιότητός μου ἔστιν δίκαιος ἀπολλύμενος ἐν δικαίῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔστιν ἀσεβὴς μένων ἐν κακίᾳ αὐτοῦ
LA Hæc quoque vidi in diebus vanitatis meæ: justus perit in justitia sua, et impius multo vivit tempore in malitia sua.
EN These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perishes in his justice, and a wicked man lives a long time in his wickedness.
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GR μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολὺ καὶ μὴ σοφίζου περισσά μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς
LA Noli esse justus multum, neque plus sapias quam necesse est, ne obstupescas.
EN Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest you become stupid.
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GR μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου
LA Ne impie agas multum, et noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo.
EN Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest you die before your time.
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GR ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ ἀνῇς τὴν χεῖρά σου ὅτι φοβούμενος τὸν θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα
LA Bonum est te sustentare justum: sed et ab illo ne subtrahas manum tuam; quia qui timet Deum nihil negligit.
EN It is good that you should hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not your hand: for he that fears God, neglects nothing.
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GR ἡ σοφία βοηθήσει τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ δέκα ἐξουσιάζοντας τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τῇ πόλει
LA Sapientia confortavit sapientem super decem principes civitatis;
EN Wisdom has strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
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GR ὅτι ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστιν δίκαιος ἐν τῇ γῇ ὃς ποιήσει ἀγαθὸν καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσεται
LA non est enim homo justus in terra qui faciat bonum et non peccet.
EN For there is no just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.
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21
GR καί γε εἰς πάντας τοὺς λόγους οὓς λαλήσουσιν μὴ θῇς καρδίαν σου ὅπως μὴ ἀκούσῃς τοῦ δούλου σου καταρωμένου σε
LA Sed et cunctis sermonibus qui dicuntur ne accomodes cor tuum, ne forte audias servum tuum maledicentem tibi;
EN But do not apply your heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps you hear your servant reviling you.
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GR ὅτι πλειστάκις πονηρεύσεταί σε καὶ καθόδους πολλὰς κακώσει καρδίαν σου ὅπως καί γε σὺ κατηράσω ἑτέρους
LA scit enim conscientia tua quia et tu crebro maledixisti aliis.
EN For your conscience knows that you also have often spoken evil of others.
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GR πάντα ταῦτα ἐπείρασα ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ εἶπα σοφισθήσομαι
LA Cuncta tentavi in sapientia. Dixi: Sapiens efficiar: et ipsa longius recessit a me,
EN I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
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GR καὶ αὐτὴ ἐμακρύνθη ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ μακρὰν ὑπὲρ ὃ ἦν καὶ βαθὺ βάθος τίς εὑρήσει αὐτό
LA multo magis quam erat. Et alta profunditas, quis inveniet eam?
EN much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
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GR ἐκύκλωσα ἐγώ καὶ ἡ καρδία μου τοῦ γνῶναι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι καὶ ζητῆσαι σοφίαν καὶ ψῆφον καὶ τοῦ γνῶναι ἀσεβοῦς ἀφροσύνην καὶ σκληρίαν καὶ περιφοράν
LA Lustravi universa animo meo, ut scirem et considerarem, et quærerem sapientiam, et rationem, et ut cognoscerem impietatem stulti, et errorem imprudentium:
EN I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
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GR καὶ εὑρίσκω ἐγὼ πικρότερον ὑπὲρ θάνατον σὺν τὴν γυναῖκα ἥτις ἐστὶν θηρεύματα καὶ σαγῆναι καρδία αὐτῆς δεσμοὶ χεῖρες αὐτῆς ἀγαθὸς πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ ἐξαιρεθήσεται ἀπ’ αὐτῆς καὶ ἁμαρτάνων συλλημφθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ
LA et inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quæ laqueus venatorum est, et sagena cor ejus; vincula sunt manus illius. Qui placet Deo effugiet illam; qui autem peccator est capietur ab illa.
EN And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleases God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
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GR ἰδὲ τοῦτο εὗρον εἶπεν ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστής μία τῇ μιᾷ τοῦ εὑρεῖν λογισμόν
LA Ecce hoc inveni, dixit Ecclesiastes, unum et alterum ut invenirem rationem,
EN Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
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GR ὃν ἔτι ἐζήτησεν ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ οὐχ εὗρον ἄνθρωπον ἕνα ἀπὸ χιλίων εὗρον καὶ γυναῖκα ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐχ εὗρον
LA quam adhuc quærit anima mea, et non inveni. Virum de mille unum reperi; mulierem ex omnibus non inveni.
EN which yet my soul seeks, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.
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GR πλὴν ἰδὲ τοῦτο εὗρον ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς σὺν τὸν ἄνθρωπον εὐθῆ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐζήτησαν λογισμοὺς πολλούς
LA Solummodo hoc inveni, quod fecerit Deus hominem rectum, et ipse se infinitis miscuerit quæstionibus. Quis talis ut sapiens est? et quis cognovit solutionem verbi?
EN Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he has entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? And who has known the resolution of the word?
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[!note]- Over just…
Viz., By an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of God in bearing with the wicked. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
[!note]- Be not overmuch wicked…
That is, lest by the greatness of your sin you leave no room for mercy. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
[!note]- Of the word…
That is, of this obscure and difficult matter. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
