ספר מורמוןSefer Mormon: Standard Works

Ecclesiastes 7 קֹהֶלֶת פרק ז׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Ecclesiastes 7 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

  1. 1

    טוֹבtovbetter isשֵׁםshema nameמִשֶּׁמֶןmish/SHE/menthan ointmentטוֹבtovgoodוְיוֹםve/YOMand the day ofהַמָּוֶתham/MA/vetdeathמִיּוֹםmiy/YOMthan the day ofהִוָּלְדוֹ׃hiv/va/le/DOhis birth

    A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

  2. 2

    טוֹבtovit is betterלָלֶכֶתla/LE/khetto goאֶל־בֵּית־אֵבֶלel-bet-E/velto the house of mourningמִלֶּכֶתmil/LE/khetthan to goאֶל־בֵּיתel-betto the house ofמִשְׁתֶּהmish/TEfeastingבַּאֲשֶׁרba/a/SHERfor thatהוּאhuisסוֹףsofthe end ofכׇּל־הָאָדָםkol-ha/a/DAMall menוְהַחַיve/ha/CHAYand the livingיִתֵּןyit/TENwill lay itאֶל־לִבּוֹ׃el-lib/BOto his heart

    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. 3

    טוֹבtovbetter isכַּעַסKA/assorrowמִשְּׂחוֹקmis/se/CHOKthan laughterכִּי־בְרֹעַki-ve/RO/afor by the sadness ofפָּנִיםpa/NIMthe countenanceיִיטַבyi/TAVis made betterלֵב׃levthe heart

    Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

  4. 4

    לֵבlevthe heart ofחֲכָמִיםcha/kha/MIMthe wiseבְּבֵיתbe/VETin the house ofאֵבֶלE/velmourningוְלֵבve/LEVbut the heart ofכְּסִילִיםke/si/LIMfoolsבְּבֵיתbe/VETin the house ofשִׂמְחָה׃sim/CHAmirth

    The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

  5. 5

    טוֹבtovit is betterלִשְׁמֹעַlish/MO/ato hearגַּעֲרַתga/a/RATthe rebuke ofחָכָםcha/KHAMthe wiseמֵאִישׁme/ISHthan for a manשֹׁמֵעַsho/ME/ato hearשִׁירshirthe song ofכְּסִילִים׃ke/si/LIMfools

    It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

  6. 6

    כִּיkiforכְקוֹלkhe/KOLlike the sound ofהַסִּירִיםhas/si/RIMthe thornsתַּחַתTA/chatunderהַסִּירhas/SIRthe potכֵּןkenso isשְׂחֹקse/CHOKthe laughter ofהַכְּסִילhak/ke/SILthe foolוְגַם־זֶהve/GAM-zethis also isהָבֶל׃HA/velvanity

    For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

  7. 7

    כִּיkisurelyהָעֹשֶׁקha/O/shekoppressionיְהוֹלֵלye/ho/LELmakes madחָכָםcha/KHAMa wise manוִיאַבֵּדvi/ab/BEDand destroysאֶת־לֵבet-levthe heartמַתָּנָה׃mat/ta/NAa gift

    Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

  8. 8

    טוֹבtovbetter isאַחֲרִיתa/cha/RITthe end ofדָּבָרda/VARa thingמֵרֵאשִׁיתוֹme/re/shi/TOthan its beginningטוֹבtovbetter isאֶרֶךְ־רוּחַE/rekh-RU/achthe patient in spiritמִגְּבַהּ־רוּחַ׃mig/ge/VA-RU/achthan the proud in spirit

    Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

  9. 9

    אַל־תְּבַהֵלal-te/va/HELbe not hastyבְּרוּחֲךָbe/ru/cha/KHAin your spiritלִכְעוֹסlikh/OSto be angryכִּיkiforכַעַסKHA/asangerבְּחֵיקbe/CHEKin the bosom ofכְּסִילִיםke/si/LIMfoolsיָנוּחַ׃ya/NU/achrests

    Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

  10. 10

    אַל־תֹּאמַרal-to/MARdo not sayמֶהmehowהָיָהha/YAwas itשֶׁהַיָּמִיםSHE/hay/ya/mimthat the daysהָרִאשֹׁנִיםha/ri/sho/NIMformerהָיוּha/YUwereטוֹבִיםto/VIMbetterמֵאֵלֶּהme/EL/lethan theseכִּיkiforלֹאlonotמֵחׇכְמָהme/chokh/MAout of wisdomשָׁאַלְתָּsha/AL/tado you inquireעַל־זֶה׃al-zeconcerning this

    Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

  11. 11

    טוֹבָהto/VAgood isחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomעִם־נַחֲלָהim-na/cha/LAwith an inheritanceוְיֹתֵרve/yo/TERand an advantageלְרֹאֵיle/ro/Eto them that seeהַשָּׁמֶשׁ׃hash/SHA/meshthe sun

    Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

  12. 12

    כִּיkiforבְּצֵלbe/TSELin the shadow ofהַחׇכְמָהha/chokh/MAwisdomבְּצֵלbe/TSELin the shadow ofהַכָּסֶףhak/KA/sefmoneyוְיִתְרוֹןve/yit/RONbut the excellency ofדַּעַתDA/atknowledgeהַחׇכְמָהha/chokh/MAwisdomתְּחַיֶּהte/chay/YEgives life toבְעָלֶיהָ׃ve/a/LE/hathem that have it

    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. 13

    רְאֵהre/Econsiderאֶת־מַעֲשֵׂהet-ma/a/SEthe work ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodכִּיkiforמִיmiwhoיוּכַלyu/KHALcanלְתַקֵּןle/tak/KENmake straightאֵת־אֲשֶׁרet-a/SHERthat whichעִוְּתוֹ׃iv/ve/TOHe has made crooked

    Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

  14. 14

    בְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofטוֹבָהto/VAprosperityהֱיֵהhe/YEbeבְטוֹבve/TOVin goodוּבְיוֹםu/ve/YOMand in the day ofרָעָהra/Aadversityרְאֵהre/Econsiderגַּםgamalsoאֶת־זֶהet-zethisלְעֻמַּת־זֶהle/um/MAT-zealongside thisעָשָׂהa/SAhas madeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodעַל־דִּבְרַתal-div/RATto the endשֶׁלֹּאshel/LOthat notיִמְצָאyim/TSAshould findהָאָדָםha/a/DAMmanאַחֲרָיוa/cha/RAYVafter himמְאוּמָה׃me/U/maanything

    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. 15

    אֶת־הַכֹּלet-hak/KOLall thingsרָאִיתִיra/I/tihave I seenבִּימֵיbi/MEin the days ofהֶבְלִיhev/LImy vanityיֵשׁyeshthere isצַדִּיקtsad/DIKa just manאֹבֵדo/VEDthat perishesבְּצִדְקוֹbe/tsid/KOin his righteousnessוְיֵשׁve/YESHand there isרָשָׁעra/SHAa wicked manמַאֲרִיךְma/a/RIKHthat prolongsבְּרָעָתוֹ׃be/ra/a/TOin his wickedness

    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. 16

    אַל־תְּהִיal-te/HIdo not beצַדִּיקtsad/DIKrighteousהַרְבֵּהhar/BEover muchוְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּםve/AL-tit/chak/KAMneither make yourself wiseיוֹתֵרyo/TERover muchלָמָּהLAM/mawhyתִּשּׁוֹמֵם׃tish/sho/MEMshould you destroy yourself

    Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

  17. 17

    אַל־תִּרְשַׁעal-tir/SHAdo not be wickedהַרְבֵּהhar/BEover muchוְאַל־תְּהִיve/AL-te/HIneither beסָכָלsa/KHALfoolishלָמָּהLAM/mawhyתָמוּתta/MUTshould you dieבְּלֹאbe/LOwithoutעִתֶּךָ׃it/TE/khayour time

    Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

  18. 18

    טוֹבtovit is goodאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatתֶּאֱחֹזte/e/CHOZyou should take holdבָּזֶהba/ZEof thisוְגַם־מִזֶּהve/GAM-miz/ZEyea also from thisאַל־תַּנַּחal-tan/NACHwithdraw notאֶת־יָדֶךָet-ya/DE/khayour handכִּי־יְרֵאki-ye/REfor he that fearsאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodיֵצֵאye/TSEshall come forthאֶת־כֻּלָּם׃et-kul/LAMfrom them all

    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. 19

    הַחׇכְמָהha/chokh/MAwisdomתָּעֹזta/OZstrengthensלֶחָכָםle/cha/KHAMthe wiseמֵעֲשָׂרָהme/a/sa/RAmore than tenשַׁלִּיטִיםshal/li/TIMrulersאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichהָיוּha/YUareבָּעִיר׃ba/IRin the city

    Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

  20. 20

    כִּיkiforאָדָםa/DAMa manאֵיןenthere is notצַדִּיקtsad/DIKjustבָּאָרץba/ARTSupon earthאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיַעֲשֶׂה־טּוֹבya/a/SE-tovdoes goodוְלֹאve/LOand notיֶחֱטָא׃ye/che/TAsins

    For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  21. 21

    גַּםgamalsoלְכׇל־הַדְּבָרִיםle/KHOL-had/de/va/RIMto all the wordsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיְדַבֵּרוּye/dab/BE/ruthey speakאַל־תִּתֵּןal-tit/TENgive notלִבֶּךָlib/BE/khayour heartאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־תִשְׁמַעlo-tish/MAyou hear notאֶת־עַבְדְּךָet-av/de/KHAyour servantמְקַלְלֶךָ׃me/kal/LE/khacurse you

    Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

  22. 22

    כִּיkiforגַּם־פְּעָמִיםgam-pe/a/MIMoftentimes alsoרַבּוֹתrab/BOTmanyיָדַעya/DAknowsלִבֶּךָlib/BE/khayour heartאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatגַּם־[אַתָּה]gam-at/TAyou yourself likewise(את)tקִלַּלְתָּkil/LAL/tayou have cursedאֲחֵרִים׃a/che/RIMothers

    For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

  23. 23

    כׇּל־זֹהkol-zoall thisנִסִּיתִיnis/SI/tihave I provedבַחׇכְמָהva/chokh/MAby wisdomאָמַרְתִּיa/MAR/tiI saidאֶחְכָּמָהech/KA/maI will be wiseוְהִיאve/HIbut it wasרְחוֹקָהre/cho/KAfarמִמֶּנִּי׃mim/MEN/nifrom me

    All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

  24. 24

    רָחוֹקra/CHOKfar offמַה־שֶּׁהָיָהma-she/ha/YAthat which isוְעָמֹקve/a/MOKand deepעָמֹקa/MOKdeepמִיmiwhoיִמְצָאֶנּוּ׃yim/tsa/EN/nucan find it out

    That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

  25. 25

    סַבּוֹתִיsab/BO/tiI turned aboutאֲנִיa/NIIוְלִבִּיve/lib/BIand my heartלָדַעַתla/DA/atto knowוְלָתוּרve/la/TURand to searchוּבַקֵּשׁu/vak/KESHand to seek outחׇכְמָהchokh/MAwisdomוְחֶשְׁבּוֹןve/chesh/BONand the reason of thingsוְלָדַעַתve/la/DA/atand to knowרֶשַׁעRE/shawickednessכֶּסֶלKE/selof follyוְהַסִּכְלוּתve/has/sikh/LUTeven of foolishnessהוֹלֵלוֹת׃ho/le/LOTand madness

    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. 26

    וּמוֹצֶאu/mo/TSEand findאֲנִיa/NIIמַרmarmore bitterמִמָּוֶתmim/MA/vetthan deathאֶת־הָאִשָּׁהet-ha/ish/SHAthe womanאֲשֶׁר־הִיאa/SHER-hiwhoseמְצוֹדִיםme/tso/DIMis snaresוַחֲרָמִיםva/cha/ra/MIMand netsלִבָּהּlib/BAher heartאֲסוּרִיםa/su/RIMas bandsיָדֶיהָya/DE/haher handsטוֹבtovgoodלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodיִמָּלֵטyim/ma/LETshall escapeמִמֶּנָּהmim/MEN/nafrom herוְחוֹטֵאve/cho/TEbut the sinnerיִלָּכֶדyil/LA/khedshall be takenבָּהּ׃baby her

    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. 27

    רְאֵהre/Ebeholdזֶהzethisמָצָאתִיma/TSA/tiI have foundאָמְרָהa/me/RAsaysקֹהֶלֶתKo/HE/letthe Preacherאַחַתa/CHAToneלְאַחַתle/a/CHATby oneלִמְצֹאlim/TSOto find outחֶשְׁבּוֹן׃chesh/BONthe account

    Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

  28. 28

    אֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichעוֹד־בִּקְשָׁהod-bik/SHAyet seeksנַפְשִׁיnaf/SHImy soulוְלֹאve/LOand notמָצָאתִיma/TSA/tiI have foundאָדָםa/DAMmanאֶחָדe/CHADoneמֵאֶלֶףme/E/lefamong a thousandמָצָאתִיma/TSA/tiI have foundוְאִשָּׁהve/ish/SHAand a womanבְכׇל־אֵלֶּהve/KHOL-EL/leamong all theseלֹאlonotמָצָאתִי׃ma/TSA/tiI have found

    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. 29

    לְבַדle/VADonlyרְאֵה־זֶהre/E-zelo thisמָצָאתִיma/TSA/tihave I foundאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatעָשָׂהa/SAhas madeהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodאֶת־הָאָדָםet-ha/a/DAMmanיָשָׁרya/SHARuprightוְהֵמָּהve/HEM/mabut theyבִקְשׁוּvik/SHUhave sought outחִשְּׁבֹנוֹתchish/she/vo/NOTinventionsרַבִּים׃rab/BIMmany

    Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.