1A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
1Aus nimi on parem kui kallis võideõli ja surmapäev on parem kui sünnipäev.
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 will lay it to his heart.
2Parem on minna leinakotta kui pidukotta, sest seal on kõigi inimeste lõpp, ja kes elab, võtku see südamesse!
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
3Parem on meelehärm kui naer, sest kurb nägu on südamele hea.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
4Tarkade süda on leinakojas, aga alpide süda on rõõmukojas.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
5Parem on kuulata targa sõitlust kui alpide laulu.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
6Sest otsekui kibuvitste praksumine paja all on albi naer. Seegi on tühi töö.
7Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
7Tõesti, rõhumine teeb targa rumalaks ja pistis rikub südant.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
8Asja lõpp on parem kui selle algus; kannatlikkus on parem kui ülbus.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
9Ära lase oma meelt kergesti saada pahaseks, sest pahameel asub alpide põues!
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
10Ära ütle: 'Miks olid endised ajad paremad kui nüüdsed?' Sest seda sa ei küsi targasti.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
11Tarkus on niisama hea kui pärisosa, ja kasuks neile, kes päikest näevad.
12For 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.
12Sest tarkuse varjus on nagu raha varjus; aga teadmise kasu on see, et tarkus hoiab elus selle omaniku.
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
13Vaata Jumala tööd: sest kes suudaks õgvendada, mida tema on teinud kõveraks?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
14Heal päeval olgu sul hea meel, ja kurjal päeval mõtle järele: Jumal on teinud nii selle kui teise, et inimene ei teaks, mis tal ees seisab.
15All this have I seen in my days of 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.
15Kõike olen ma näinud oma tühiseil päevil: õiglane hukkub oma õigluses ja õel elab kaua oma kurjuses.
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
16Ära ole liiga õiglane ja ära pea ennast väga targaks: miks peaksid ennast hävitama?
17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
17Ära ole liiga õel ja ära ole alp: miks tahad enneaegu surra?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
18Hea on, kui sa ühest kinni pead ja ka teisest oma kätt lahti ei lase, sest kes Jumalat kardab, pääseb neist kõigist.
19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
19Tarkus annab targale rohkem kindlust kui kümme valitsejat linnas.
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
20Sest ükski inimene ei ole maa peal nii õige, et ta teeks ainult head, aga mitte kunagi pattu.
21Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
21Ära pane tähele ka mitte kõiki sõnu, mida räägitakse, et sa ei kuuleks, kui su sulane sind sajatab.
22for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22Sest su süda ju teab, et ka sina oled palju kordi sajatanud teisi.
23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
23Seda kõike ma olen tarkusega läbi katsunud. Ma ütlesin: 'Ma saan targemaks', aga see jäi minust kaugele.
24That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
24See, mis on, on kauge ja sügav, väga sügav. Kes selle leiab?
25I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
25Ma pöörasin ka oma südame tunnetama ja uurima ning otsima tarkust ja põhjust, ja tunnetama õeluse alpust ja sõgeduse meeletust.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
26Ja ma leidsin, mis on kibedam surmast: naine! Ta on otsekui püünis: ta süda on nagu võrk, ta käed on nagu ahelad. Kes Jumalale meeldib, see pääseb temast, aga patuse püüab ta kinni.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
27Vaata, seda ma olen leidnud, ütleb Koguja, ühte teisega võrreldes, et leida lahendust,
28which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
28mida mu hing veel otsib ega ole leidnud: ma leidsin tuhande hulgast ühe mehe, aga naist ei ole ma nende kõigi hulgast leidnud.
29Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
29Vaata, ma olen leidnud ainult seda, et Jumal on inimesed loonud ausaks, aga nad ise leiutavad rohkesti riukaid.