New Century Version NCV
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 No one is like the wise person who can understand what things mean. Wisdom brings happiness; it makes sad faces happy.
1
sapientia hominis lucet in vultu eius et potentissimus faciem illius commutavit
2 Obey the king's command, because you made a promise to God.
2
ego os regis observo et praecepta iuramenti Dei
3 Don't be too quick to leave the king. Don't support something that is wrong, because the king does whatever he pleases.
3
ne festines recedere a facie eius neque permaneas in opere malo quia omne quod voluerit faciet
4 What the king says is law; no one tells him what to do.
4
et sermo illius potestate plenus est nec dicere ei quisquam potest quare ita facis
5 Whoever obeys the king's command will be safe. A wise person does the right thing at the right time.
5
qui custodit praeceptum non experietur quicquam mali tempus et responsionem cor sapientis intellegit
6 There is a right time and a right way for everything, yet people often have many troubles.
6
omni negotio tempus est et oportunitas et multa hominis adflictio
7 They do not know what the future holds, and no one can tell them what will happen.
7
quia ignorat praeterita et ventura nullo scire potest nuntio
8 No one can control the wind or stop his own death. No soldier is released in times of war, and evil does not set free those who do evil. Justice, Rewards, and Punishment
8
non est in hominis dicione prohibere spiritum nec habet potestatem in die mortis nec sinitur quiescere ingruente bello neque salvabit impietas impium
9 I saw all of this as I considered all that is done here on earth. Sometimes men harm those they control.
9
omnia haec consideravi et dedi cor meum in cunctis operibus quae fiunt sub sole interdum dominatur homo homini in malum suum
10 I saw the funerals of evil people who used to go in and out of the holy place. They were honored in the same towns where they had done evil. This is useless, too.
10
vidi impios sepultos qui etiam cum adviverent in loco sancto erant et laudabantur in civitate quasi iustorum operum sed et hoc vanitas est
11 When evil people are not punished right away, it makes others want to do evil, too.
11
etenim quia non profertur cito contra malos sententia absque ullo timore filii hominum perpetrant mala
12 Though a sinner might do a hundred evil things and might live a long time, I know it will be better for those who honor God.
12
attamen ex eo quod peccator centies facit malum et per patientiam sustentatur ego cognovi quod erit bonum timentibus Deum qui verentur faciem eius
13 I also know it will not go well for evil people, because they do not honor God. Like a shadow, they will not last.
13
non sit bonum impio nec prolongentur dies eius sed quasi umbra transeant qui non timent faciem Dei
14 Sometimes something useless happens on earth. Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. I say that this is also useless.
14
est et alia vanitas quae fit super terram sunt iusti quibus multa proveniunt quasi opera egerint impiorum et sunt impii qui ita securi sunt quasi iustorum facta habeant sed et hoc vanissimum iudico
15 So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink, and enjoy life, because these joys will help them do the hard work God gives them here on earth.
15
laudavi igitur laetitiam quod non esset homini bonum sub sole nisi quod comederet et biberet atque gauderet et hoc solum secum auferret de labore suo in diebus vitae quos dedit ei Deus sub sole
16 I tried to understand all that happens on earth. I saw how busy people are, working day and night and hardly ever sleeping.
16
et adposui cor meum ut scirem sapientiam et intellegerem distentionem quae versatur in terra est homo qui diebus ac noctibus somnum oculis non capit
17 I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can understand what God does here on earth. No matter how hard people try to understand it, they cannot. Even if wise people say they understand, they cannot; no one can really understand it.
17
et intellexi quod omnium operum Dei nullam possit homo invenire rationem eorum quae fiunt sub sole et quanto plus laboraverit ad quaerendum tanto minus inveniat etiam si dixerit sapiens se nosse non poterit repperire
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.