Ecclesiastes 7:18

The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation (JPS 1917)

በዚህ ቋንቋ ገና ትርጉም የለም፤ English እየታየ ነው።

7

1 ט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃ A good name is better than precious oil; And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

2 ט֞וֹב לָלֶ֣כֶת אֶל־בֵּֽית־אֵ֗בֶל מִלֶּ֙כֶת֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה בַּאֲשֶׁ֕ר ה֖וּא ס֣וֹף כׇּל־הָאָדָ֑ם וְהַחַ֖י יִתֵּ֥ן אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃ 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 ט֥וֹב כַּ֖עַס מִשְּׂח֑וֹק כִּֽי־בְרֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב׃ Vexation is better than laughter; For by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

4 לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה׃ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 ט֕וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ גַּעֲרַ֣ת חָכָ֑ם מֵאִ֕ישׁ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ שִׁ֥יר כְּסִילִֽים׃ It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 כִּ֣י כְק֤וֹל הַסִּירִים֙ תַּ֣חַת הַסִּ֔יר כֵּ֖ן שְׂחֹ֣ק הַכְּסִ֑יל וְגַם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃ For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.

7 כִּ֥י הָעֹ֖שֶׁק יְהוֹלֵ֣ל חָכָ֑ם וִֽיאַבֵּ֥ד אֶת־לֵ֖ב מַתָּנָֽה׃ Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; And a gift destroyeth the understanding.

8 ט֛וֹב אַחֲרִ֥ית דָּבָ֖ר מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹ ט֥וֹב אֶֽרֶךְ־ר֖וּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רֽוּחַ׃ Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 אַל־תְּבַהֵ֥ל בְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖ לִכְע֑וֹס כִּ֣י כַ֔עַס בְּחֵ֥יק כְּסִילִ֖ים יָנֽוּחַ׃ Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; For anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10 אַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחׇכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃ Say not thou: ‘How was it that the former days were better than these?’ for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.

11 טוֹבָ֥ה חׇכְמָ֖ה עִֽם־נַחֲלָ֑ה וְיֹתֵ֖ר לְרֹאֵ֥י הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ Wisdom is good with an inheritance, Yea, a profit to them that see the sun.

12 כִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה בְּצֵ֣ל הַכָּ֑סֶף וְיִתְר֣וֹן דַּ֔עַת הַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה תְּחַיֶּ֥ה בְעָלֶֽיהָ׃ For 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.

13 רְאֵ֖ה אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לְתַקֵּ֔ן אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִוְּתֽוֹ׃ Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?

14 בְּי֤וֹם טוֹבָה֙ הֱיֵ֣ה בְט֔וֹב וּבְי֥וֹם רָעָ֖ה רְאֵ֑ה גַּ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֤ה לְעֻמַּת־זֶה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־דִּבְרַ֗ת שֶׁלֹּ֨א יִמְצָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם אַחֲרָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה׃ In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 אֶת־הַכֹּ֥ל רָאִ֖יתִי בִּימֵ֣י הֶבְלִ֑י יֵ֤שׁ צַדִּיק֙ אֹבֵ֣ד בְּצִדְק֔וֹ וְיֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֔ע מַאֲרִ֖יךְ בְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃ All things have I seen in the days of my 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.

16 אַל־תְּהִ֤י צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם יוֹתֵ֑ר לָ֖מָּה תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃ Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 אַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃ Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 ט֚וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז בָּזֶ֔ה וְגַם־מִזֶּ֖ה אַל־תַּנַּ֣ח אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֵצֵ֥א אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃ It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

19 הַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה תָּעֹ֣ז לֶחָכָ֑ם מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ בָּעִֽיר׃ Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

20 כִּ֣י אָדָ֔ם אֵ֥ין צַדִּ֖יק בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂה־טּ֖וֹב וְלֹ֥א יֶחֱטָֽא׃ For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 גַּ֤ם לְכׇל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ אַל־תִּתֵּ֖ן לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֥ע אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃ Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

22 כִּ֛י גַּם־פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת יָדַ֣ע לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גַּם־[אַתָּ֖ה] (את) קִלַּ֥לְתָּ אֲחֵרִֽים׃ for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 כׇּל־זֹ֖ה נִסִּ֣יתִי בַֽחׇכְמָ֑ה אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֶחְכָּ֔מָה וְהִ֖יא רְחוֹקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ All this have I tried by wisdom; I said: ‘I will get wisdom’; but it was far from me.

24 רָח֖וֹק מַה־שֶּׁהָיָ֑ה וְעָמֹ֥ק ׀ עָמֹ֖ק מִ֥י יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃ That which is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

25 סַבּ֨וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֤י וְלִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת וְלָת֔וּר וּבַקֵּ֥שׁ חׇכְמָ֖ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וְלָדַ֙עַת֙ רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת הוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃ I turned about, and applied my heart to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;

26 וּמוֹצֶ֨א אֲנִ֜י מַ֣ר מִמָּ֗וֶת אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֨יא מְצוֹדִ֧ים וַחֲרָמִ֛ים לִבָּ֖הּ אֲסוּרִ֣ים יָדֶ֑יהָ ט֞וֹב לִפְנֵ֤י הָאֱלֹהִים֙ יִמָּלֵ֣ט מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְחוֹטֵ֖א יִלָּ֥כֶד בָּֽהּ׃ 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 רְאֵה֙ זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אָמְרָ֖ה קֹהֶ֑לֶת אַחַ֥ת לְאַחַ֖ת לִמְצֹ֥א חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃ Behold, this have I found, saith Koheleth, adding one thing to another, to find out the account;

28 אֲשֶׁ֛ר עוֹד־בִּקְשָׁ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אתִי אָדָ֞ם אֶחָ֤ד מֵאֶ֙לֶף֙ מָצָ֔אתִי וְאִשָּׁ֥ה בְכׇל־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֥א מָצָֽאתִי׃ which yet my soul sought, but I found not; one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

29 לְבַד֙ רְאֵה־זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאָדָ֖ם יָשָׁ֑ר וְהֵ֥מָּה בִקְשׁ֖וּ חִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹת רַבִּֽים׃ Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Miqra according to the Masorah · ፈቃድ: CC BY-SA · ምንጭ
The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation (JPS 1917) · ፈቃድ: Public Domain · ምንጭ

ቃል በቃል (Hebrew → English · Strong’s)

ט֚וֹבṭôwbgood in the widest sense
אֲשֶׁ֣רʼăsherwho
תֶּאֱחֹ֣זʼâchazto seize (often with the accessory idea
בָּזֶ֔הzehthe masculine demonstrative pronoun
וְגַםgamassemblage
מִזֶּ֖הzehthe masculine demonstrative pronoun
אַלʼalnot
תַּנַּ֣חyânachto deposit
אֶתʼêthself (but generally used to point out mo
יָדֶ֑ךָyâda hand (the open one (indicating power
כִּֽיkîyvery widely used as a relative conjuncti
יְרֵ֥אyârêʼfearing
אֱלֹהִ֖יםʼĕlôhîymgods in the ordinary sense
יֵצֵ֥אyâtsâʼto go out
אֶתʼêthself (but generally used to point out mo
כֻּלָּֽםkôlthe whole

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0); Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary (CC BY-SA).

Ecclesiastes 7:18 in every translation

עברית · Miqra according to the Masorah

ט֚וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז בָּזֶ֔ה וְגַם־מִזֶּ֖ה אַל־תַּנַּ֣ח אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֵצֵ֥א אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃

ፈቃድ: CC BY-SA

עברית · Tanach with Ta'amei Hamikra

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

English · The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation (JPS 1917)

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

עברית · Tanach with Text Only

טוב אשר תאחז בזה וגם־מזה אל־תנח את־ידך כי־ירא אלהים יצא את־כלם

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

עברית · Tanach with Nikkud

טוֹב אֲשֶׁר תֶּאֱחֹז בָּזֶה וְגַם־מִזֶּה אַל־תַּנַּח אֶת־יָדֶךָ כִּי־יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים יֵצֵא אֶת־כֻּלָּם׃

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

English · The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein

It is good that you hold on to this [(righteousness)]; and also from this [("wickedness")] do not let your hand go [i.e., Always obey the righteous prophet; for even what may strike you as a wicked command, in the last analysis will be found to be a righteous one.] The fearer of G-d will fulfill all [(that the prophet says)].

ፈቃድ: CC BY

English · Kohelet by Bruce Heitler

It is good to take hold of this and also of that; do not relax your grip since awe for God can flow from all of these.

ፈቃድ: CC BY

Français · Bible du Rabbinat 1899 [fr]

Tu feras bien de t’attacher à l’une des méthodes sans que ta main lâche l’autre: celui qui craint Dieu se tire d’affaire en toutes choses.

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

Deutsch · Die Heilige Schrift, trans. Dr. Simon Bernfeld, Berlin, 1902 - German [de]

Es ist gut, dass du das eine ergreifst und auch vom andern nicht lässt; denn der Gott fürchtet, sucht alles zu erfüllen. —

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

Polski · Bible in Polish, trans. Izaak Cylkow, 1841 - 1908 [pl]

Dobrze jest, abyś się tego trzymał, a i od drugiego nie puszczał ręki twojej; bo kto Boga się obawia, unika tego wszystkiego.

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

ייִדיש · Yehoyesh's Yiddish Tanakh Translation [yi]

גוט איז דו זאָלסט זיך האַלטן אָן דעם, און אױך פֿון יענעם ניט אָפּלאָזן דײַן האַנט; װאָרום דער װאָס האָט מורא פֿאַר גאָט, קומט דורך מיט בײדע.

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

English · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

It is best to take hold of one, and also from the other withdraw not your hand; for he who fears God will discharge his duty to both.

ፈቃድ: CC BY

Esperanto · La Malnova Testamento, L.L.Zamenhof [eo]

Bone estas, se vi tenos vin je unu afero kaj ankaŭ de alia afero vi ne forprenos vian manon; ĉar tiu, kiu timas Dion, penas plaĉi al ĉiuj.

ፈቃድ: Public Domain

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:18

Rashi

English

It is best to take hold of one, etc. Grasp both, righteousness and wickedness. If the righteous prophet told you something that appears to you as being evil, e.g., what Shmuel said to Shaul, let it not be taken lightly by you to doubt it.

Will discharge his duty to both. Both of them, to preserve the righteousness and the wickedness according to their rule.

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001 · ፈቃድ: CC-BY · Full commentary on Sefaria

Ibn Ezra

עברית

טוב. כבר פירשתי בפסוק טוב כעס משחוק מעט מחלקי הנפש ואיש השכל יתן לכל נפש חלק בעתו ואיננו צריך לחפש מה יעשה רק ילך אחר תורת אלהינו ולא יסור ממנה ימין ושמאל וישמור המצות אשר יעשה אותם האדם וחי בהם בשני העולמות ובענין הזה חתם ספרו כי ירא אלהים יצא את כלם לאמת:

Wikisource · ፈቃድ: Public Domain · Full commentary on Sefaria