1Aus nimi on parem kui kallis võideõli ja surmapäev on parem kui sünnipäev.
1A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2Parem on minna leinakotta kui pidukotta, sest seal on kõigi inimeste lõpp, ja kes elab, võtku see südamesse!
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
3Parem on meelehärm kui naer, sest kurb nägu on südamele hea.
3Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4Tarkade süda on leinakojas, aga alpide süda on rõõmukojas.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
5Parem on kuulata targa sõitlust kui alpide laulu.
5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
6Sest otsekui kibuvitste praksumine paja all on albi naer. Seegi on tühi töö.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7Tõesti, rõhumine teeb targa rumalaks ja pistis rikub südant.
7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8Asja lõpp on parem kui selle algus; kannatlikkus on parem kui ülbus.
8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
9Ära lase oma meelt kergesti saada pahaseks, sest pahameel asub alpide põues!
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Ära ütle: 'Miks olid endised ajad paremad kui nüüdsed?' Sest seda sa ei küsi targasti.
10Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Tarkus on niisama hea kui pärisosa, ja kasuks neile, kes päikest näevad.
11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
12Sest tarkuse varjus on nagu raha varjus; aga teadmise kasu on see, et tarkus hoiab elus selle omaniku.
12For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
13Vaata Jumala tööd: sest kes suudaks õgvendada, mida tema on teinud kõveraks?
13Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
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.
14In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
15Kõike olen ma näinud oma tühiseil päevil: õiglane hukkub oma õigluses ja õel elab kaua oma kurjuses.
15All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
16Ära ole liiga õiglane ja ära pea ennast väga targaks: miks peaksid ennast hävitama?
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17Ära ole liiga õel ja ära ole alp: miks tahad enneaegu surra?
17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18Hea on, kui sa ühest kinni pead ja ka teisest oma kätt lahti ei lase, sest kes Jumalat kardab, pääseb neist kõigist.
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
19Tarkus annab targale rohkem kindlust kui kümme valitsejat linnas.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
20Sest ükski inimene ei ole maa peal nii õige, et ta teeks ainult head, aga mitte kunagi pattu.
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
21Ära pane tähele ka mitte kõiki sõnu, mida räägitakse, et sa ei kuuleks, kui su sulane sind sajatab.
21Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
22Sest su süda ju teab, et ka sina oled palju kordi sajatanud teisi.
22For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23Seda kõike ma olen tarkusega läbi katsunud. Ma ütlesin: 'Ma saan targemaks', aga see jäi minust kaugele.
23All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24See, mis on, on kauge ja sügav, väga sügav. Kes selle leiab?
24Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
25Ma pöörasin ka oma südame tunnetama ja uurima ning otsima tarkust ja põhjust, ja tunnetama õeluse alpust ja sõgeduse meeletust.
25I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
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.
26and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27Vaata, seda ma olen leidnud, ütleb Koguja, ühte teisega võrreldes, et leida lahendust,
27See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
28mida mu hing veel otsib ega ole leidnud: ma leidsin tuhande hulgast ühe mehe, aga naist ei ole ma nende kõigi hulgast leidnud.
28which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
29Vaata, ma olen leidnud ainult seda, et Jumal on inimesed loonud ausaks, aga nad ise leiutavad rohkesti riukaid.
29Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.