Ecclesiastes · Church Slavonic Bible (Elizabeth Bible)
Ecclesiastes 7 Church Slavonic Bible (Elizabeth Bible)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Church Slavonic in its traditional (Synodal) spelling, with accents, breathings and titlo abbreviations, shown in the Ponomar font (SIL Open Font License).
- Exodus 36–39 follow the Septuagint's order; the digital source has no verse divisions there, so Exodus 36:8–end and chapters 37, 38 and 39 each appear as one block.
- Not shown: the lectionary pericope numbers (зача́ло) and the marginal glosses of the digital source. The Prayer of Manasseh stands at the end of 2 Chronicles (36:24), as in the Slavonic Bible; the prologue of Sirach and the opening verse of Lamentations are joined to verse 1.
Slavonic Church Slavonic Bible (Elizabeth Bible)
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Что̀ и҆зли́шше человѣ́кꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ кто̀ вѣ́сть, что̀ бла́го человѣ́кꙋ въ животѣ̀ (꙳є҆гѡ̀) число̀ дні́й живота̀ сꙋ́етства є҆гѡ̀; и҆ сотворѝ ѧ҆̀ въ сѣ́ни: ꙗ҆́кѡ кто̀ возвѣсти́тъ человѣ́кꙋ, что̀ бꙋ́детъ по не́мъ под̾ со́лнцемъ;
1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
2 Бла́го и҆́мѧ па́че є҆ле́а бла́га, и҆ де́нь сме́ртный па́че днѧ̀ рожде́нїѧ є҆гѡ̀.
2 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 should take this to heart.
3 Бла́го ходи́ти въ до́мъ пла́ча, не́жели ходи́ти въ до́мъ пи́ра, поне́же сїѐ коне́цъ всѧ́комꙋ человѣ́кꙋ, и҆ живы́й да́стъ бла́го въ се́рдцы є҆гѡ̀.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
4 Бла́га ꙗ҆́рость па́че смѣ́ха, ꙗ҆́кѡ во ѕло́бѣ лица̀ ᲂу҆блажи́тсѧ се́рдце.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 Се́рдце мꙋ́дрыхъ въ домꙋ̀ пла́ча, а҆ се́рдце безꙋ́мныхъ въ домꙋ̀ весе́лїѧ.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 Бла́го є҆́же слы́шати преще́нїе премꙋ́дра, па́че мꙋ́жа слы́шащагѡ пѣ́снь безꙋ́мныхъ:
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 ꙗ҆́коже гла́съ те́рнїѧ под̾ котло́мъ, та́кѡ смѣ́хъ безꙋ́мныхъ. И҆ сїѐ сꙋета̀.
7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
8 Ꙗ҆́кѡ клевета̀ льсти́тъ мꙋ́драго и҆ погꙋблѧ́етъ се́рдце благоро́дствїѧ є҆гѡ̀.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Бла̑га послѣ̑днѧѧ слове́съ па́че нача́ла є҆гѡ̀: бла́гъ терпѣли́вый па́че высо́кагѡ дꙋ́хомъ.
9 Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Не тщи́сѧ въ дꙋ́сѣ свое́мъ ꙗ҆ри́тисѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ꙗ҆́рость въ нѣ́дрѣ безꙋ́мныхъ почі́етъ.
10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.
11 Да не рече́ши: что̀ бы́сть, ꙗ҆́кѡ дні́е пре́жднїи бѣ́ша бла́зи па́че си́хъ; ꙗ҆́кѡ не въ мꙋ́дрости вопроси́лъ є҆сѝ ѡ҆ се́мъ.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
12 Бла́га мꙋ́дрость съ наслѣ́дїемъ, па́че же ви́дѧщымъ со́лнце:
12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 ꙗ҆́кѡ въ сѣ́ни є҆гѡ̀ мꙋ́дрость, ꙗ҆́коже сѣ́нь сребра̀, и҆ и҆з̾ѻби́лїе ра́зꙋма премꙋ́дрости ѡ҆живлѧ́етъ, и҆́же ѿ неѧ̀.
13 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?
14 Ви́ждь творє́нїѧ бж҃їѧ: ꙗ҆́кѡ кто̀ мо́жетъ ᲂу҆краси́ти, є҆го́же а҆́ще бг҃ъ преврати́тъ;
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
15 Въ де́нь благосты́ни (є҆гѡ̀) живѝ во бла́зѣ и҆ ви́ждь въ де́нь ѕла̀: ви́ждь, и҆ съ ни́мъ согла́сно сїѐ сотворѝ бг҃ъ, ѡ҆ глаго́ланїи, да не ѡ҆брѧ́щетъ человѣ́къ за ни́мъ ничто́же.
15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
16 Всѧ́чєскаѧ ви́дѣхъ во дне́хъ сꙋ́етствїѧ моегѡ̀: є҆́сть првⷣный погиба́ѧй во свое́й пра́вдѣ, и҆ є҆́сть нечести́вый пребыва́ѧй во свое́й ѕло́бѣ.
16 Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Не бꙋ́ди правди́въ вельмѝ, ни мꙋдри́сѧ и҆зли́шше, да не когда̀ и҆зꙋми́шисѧ.
17 Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18 Не нече́ствꙋй мно́гѡ и҆ не бꙋ́ди же́стокъ, да не ᲂу҆́мреши не во вре́мѧ своѐ.
18 It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also don’t withdraw your hand from that; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
19 Бла́го тѝ є҆́сть держа́тисѧ сегѡ̀, и҆ ѿ сегѡ̀ не ѡ҆сквернѝ рꙋкѝ твоеѧ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ боѧ́щымсѧ бг҃а поспѣша́тсѧ всѧ̑.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Премꙋ́дрость помо́жетъ мꙋ́дромꙋ па́че десѧтѝ ѡ҆блада́ющихъ во гра́дѣ:
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and doesn’t sin.
21 ꙗ҆́кѡ нѣ́сть человѣ́къ пра́веденъ на землѝ, и҆́же сотвори́тъ благо́е и҆ не согрѣши́тъ.
21 Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
22 И҆ во всѧ̑ словеса̀, ꙗ҆̀же возглаго́лютъ нечести́вїи, не вложѝ се́рдца своегѡ̀, да не ᲂу҆слы́шиши раба̀ своегѡ̀ кленꙋ́ща тебѐ:
22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
23 ꙗ҆́кѡ мно́гажды возлꙋка́внꙋетъ на тѧ̀, и҆ ѡ҆бхождє́нїи мно́гими ѡ҆ѕло́битъ се́рдце твоѐ, ꙗ҆́коже и҆ ты̀ клѧ́лъ є҆сѝ и҆ны̑ѧ (мнѡ́гїѧ).
23 All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
24 Всѧ̑ сїѧ̑ и҆скꙋси́хъ въ мꙋ́дрости: рѣ́хъ, ᲂу҆мꙋдрю́сѧ: и҆ сїѧ̀ ᲂу҆дали́сѧ ѿ менє̀
24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
25 дале́че па́че не́же бѣ́хъ, и҆ бе́здны глꙋбина̀, кто̀ ѡ҆брѧ́щетъ ю҆̀;
25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
26 Ѡ҆быдо́хъ а҆́зъ, и҆ се́рдце моѐ, є҆́же разꙋмѣ́ти, є҆́же разсмотри́ти, и҆ є҆́же взыска́ти мꙋ́дрость и҆ ра́зꙋмъ, и҆ є҆́же разꙋмѣ́ти нечести́вагѡ безꙋ́мїе и҆ ѡ҆жесточе́нїе и҆ ле́сть:
26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
27 и҆ ѡ҆брѣто́хъ а҆́зъ ю҆̀, и҆ рекꙋ̀ горча́йшꙋ па́че сме́рти женꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́же є҆́сть лови́тва, и҆ сѣ̑ти се́рдце є҆ѧ̀, ᲂу҆́зы въ рꙋкꙋ̀ є҆ѧ̀: благі́й пред̾ лице́мъ бж҃їимъ и҆з̾и́метсѧ ѿ неѧ̀, а҆ согрѣша́ѧй ꙗ҆́тъ бꙋ́детъ ѿ неѧ̀.
27 “Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find an explanation
28 Сѐ, сїѐ ѡ҆брѣто́хъ, речѐ є҆кклесїа́стъ: є҆ди́нꙋ є҆ди́ною є҆́же ѡ҆брѣстѝ по́мыслъ, є҆́же взыска̀ дꙋша̀ моѧ̀, и҆ не ѡ҆брѣто́хъ:
28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all those.
29 и҆ человѣ́ка є҆ди́наго ѿ ты́сѧщъ ѡ҆брѣто́хъ, а҆ жены̀ во всѣ́хъ си́хъ не ѡ҆брѣто́хъ:
29 Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”
30 ѻ҆ба́че сѐ, сїѐ ѡ҆брѣто́хъ, є҆́же сотворѝ бг҃ъ человѣ́ка пра́ваго, и҆ сі́и взыска́ша помыслѡ́въ мно́гихъ. Кто̀ ᲂу҆вѣ́дѣ мꙋ́дрость; и҆ кто̀ вѣ́сть разрѣше́нїе глаго́ла;
30 Not in this translation
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Revelation 14:13; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21–23
- 2 Psalm 90:12; Hebrews 9:27; Deuteronomy 32:29; Deuteronomy 32:46; Philippians 3:19
- 3 2 Corinthians 7:9–11; Romans 5:3–4; James 4:8–10; John 16:20–22; Hebrews 12:10–11
- 4 Matthew 8:14–16; Luke 7:12–13; 1 Samuel 25:36; Nehemiah 2:2–5; Jeremiah 51:39
- 5 Proverbs 15:31–32; Psalm 141:5; Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 17:10
- 6 Psalm 58:9; Psalm 118:12; Ecclesiastes 2:2; Luke 6:25; Jude 12–13
- 7 Deuteronomy 16:19; Exodus 23:8; Proverbs 17:23; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Isaiah 1:23
- 8 Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 126:5–6; Proverbs 14:29; 1 Peter 1:13; James 5:11
- 9 James 1:19; Proverbs 14:17; Proverbs 16:32; Ephesians 4:26–27; Proverbs 26:23–26
- 10 Psalm 14:2–3; Genesis 6:11–12; Romans 1:22–32; Isaiah 50:1; Judges 6:13
- 11 Ecclesiastes 11:7; 1 Timothy 6:17–19; Proverbs 8:10–11; Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 9:15–18
- 12 Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:4; Judges 9:15
- 13 Ecclesiastes 1:15; Job 12:14; Psalm 107:43; Isaiah 14:27; Ecclesiastes 3:11
- 14 Ecclesiastes 3:4; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Deuteronomy 8:3; Ecclesiastes 12:13; James 5:13
- 15 Ecclesiastes 8:12–14; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Psalm 73:3–13; Matthew 23:34–35; Ecclesiastes 9:1–2
- 16 Romans 12:3; Proverbs 25:16; Colossians 2:18; James 3:13–17; Matthew 6:1–7
- 17 Proverbs 10:27; Job 22:16; Psalm 55:23; Acts 12:23; Acts 5:10
- 18 Ecclesiastes 12:13; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Malachi 4:2; Ecclesiastes 8:12; Luke 1:50
- 19 Proverbs 21:22; Colossians 1:9–11; Ecclesiastes 9:13–18; Proverbs 24:5; 2 Samuel 20:16–22
- 20 Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 1:8–10; James 3:2; Proverbs 20:9
- 21 Proverbs 30:10; Isaiah 29:21; 2 Samuel 16:10; 2 Samuel 19:19; 1 Corinthians 13:5–7
- 22 James 3:9; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 18:32–35; 1 Kings 2:44; John 8:7–9
- 23 Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:20; Genesis 3:5; 1 Kings 11:1–8; 1 Kings 3:11–12
- 24 Romans 11:33; Isaiah 55:8–9; 1 Timothy 6:16; Psalm 139:6; Job 28:28
- 25 Ecclesiastes 10:13; Joshua 7:13; Ecclesiastes 2:15; Proverbs 17:12; Ecclesiastes 3:16–17
- 26 Proverbs 22:14; Proverbs 5:3–5; Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 2:18–19; Ecclesiastes 2:26
- 27 Ecclesiastes 12:8–10; Ecclesiastes 1:1–2
- 28 Job 33:23; Psalm 12:1; 1 Kings 11:1–3; Isaiah 26:9; Ecclesiastes 7:23–24
- 29 Jeremiah 4:22; Genesis 6:11–12; Mark 7:8–9; Titus 3:3; Genesis 5:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… about eating and drinking, which he often repeats, and very much commends, does not savor the dainties of carnal pleasures, is made plain enough when he says, "It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting." And a little after He says, "The heart of the wise is in the house …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For God, according to the Preacher, made man upright, and they have themselves sought out many inventions.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting." And a little after He says, "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, and the heart of the simple in the house of feasting." But I think that more worthy of quotation from this book which relates to both …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)