Jubilee Bible 2000 JUB
New International Version NIV
1 A good name <em>is</em> better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
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A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2 <em>It is</em> better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that <em>is</em> the end of all men; and the living will lay <em>it</em> to his heart.
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It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
3 Sorrow <em>is</em> better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made whole.
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Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise <em>is</em> in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools <em>is</em> in the house of pleasure.
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The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 <em>It is</em> better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
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It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6 The laughter of the fool <em>is</em> as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this <em>also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is</em> vanity.
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Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.
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Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better <em>is</em> the end of a thing than its beginning, <em>and</em> he who has suffered in spirit <em>is</em> better than the proud in spirit.
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The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
9 Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
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Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
10 Never say, What is <em>the cause</em> that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
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Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Knowledge <em>is</em> good with an inheritance and <em>is</em> the excellency of those that see the sun.
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Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
12 For knowledge <em>is</em> a defence, <em>and</em> money <em>is</em> a defence; but wisdom excels in <em>that</em> it gives life to those that have it.
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Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight that which <em>he</em> has twisted?
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Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your <em>eyes and learn</em>: God also has made the one <em>(the day of adversity)</em> before the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
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When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
15 All <em>things</em> have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just <em>man</em> that perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked <em>man</em> that prolongs <em>his days</em> by his wickedness.
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In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
16 Do not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise <em>in thine own eyes</em>: why should thou destroy thyself?
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Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be hasty <em>to</em> condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?
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Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
18 <em>It is</em> good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.
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It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty <em>men</em> who are in the city.
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Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
20 For surely <em>there is</em> not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.
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Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
21 Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:
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Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—
22 For thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.
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for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise, but it <em>was</em> far from me.
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All this I tested by wisdom and I said, “I am determined to be wise”— but this was beyond me.
24 That which has been is far off and that <em>which is</em> exceeding deep, who can find it out?
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Whatever exists is far off and most profound— who can discover it?
25 I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason <em>of things</em>, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;
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So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
26 and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart <em>is</em> snares and nets, <em>and</em> her hands <em>are</em> bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.
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I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
27 Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, <em>weighing things</em> one by one to find out the answer,
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“Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.
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while I was still searching but not finding— I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.
29 Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.
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This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.