1A good name8034 is better2896 than precious2896 ointment8081; and the day3117 of death4194 than the day3117 of one's birth3205.
2It is better2896 to go3212 to the house1004 of mourning60, than to go3212 to the house1004 of feasting4960: for834 that is the end5490 of all men120; and the living2416 will lay5414 it to his heart3820.
3Sorrow3708 is better2896 than laughter7814: for by the sadness7455 of the countenance6440 the heart3820 is made better3190.
4The heart3820 of the wise2450 is in the house1004 of mourning60; but the heart3820 of fools3684 is in the house1004 of mirth8057.
5It is better2896 to hear8085 the rebuke1606 of the wise2450, than for a man376 to hear8085 the song7892 of fools3684.
6For as the crackling6963 of thorns5518 under a pot5518, so is the laughter7814 of the fool3684: this also is vanity1892.
7Surely oppression6233 maketh a wise man2450 mad1984; and a gift4979 destroyeth6 the heart3820.
8Better2896 is the end319 of a thing1697 than the beginning7225 thereof: and the patient750 in spirit7307 is better2896 than the proud1362 in spirit7307.
9Be not hasty926 in thy spirit7307 to be angry3707: for anger3708 resteth5117 in the bosom2436 of fools3684.
10Say559 not thou, What is the cause that the former7223 days3117 were better2896 than these? for thou dost not enquire7592 wisely2451 concerning this.
11Wisdom2451 is good2896 with an inheritance5159: and by it there is profit3148 to them that see7200 the sun8121.
12For wisdom2451 is a defence6738, and money3701 is a defence6738: but the excellency3504 of knowledge1847 is, that wisdom2451 giveth life2421 to them that have1167 it.
13Consider7200 the work4639 of God430: for who can3201 make that straight8626, which he hath made crooked5791?
14In the day3117 of prosperity2896 be joyful2896, but in the day3117 of adversity7451 consider7200: God430 also hath set6213 the one over against5980 the other, to the end1700 that man120 should find4672 nothing3972 after310 him.
15All things have I seen7200 in the days3117 of my vanity1892: there is3426 a just6662 man that perisheth6 in his righteousness6664, and there is a wicked7563 man that prolongeth748 his life in his wickedness7451.
16Be not righteous6662 over much7235; neither make thyself over3148 wise2449: why shouldest thou destroy8074 thyself?
17Be not over much7235 wicked7561, neither be thou foolish5530: why shouldest thou die4191 before thy time6256?
18It is good2896 that thou shouldest take hold270 of this; yea, also from this2088 withdraw3240 not thine hand3027: for he that feareth3373 God430 shall come forth3318 of them all.
19Wisdom2451 strengtheneth5810 the wise2450 more than ten6235 mighty7989 men which are in the city5892.
20For there is not a just6662 man120 upon earth776, that doeth6213 good2896, and sinneth2398 not.
21Also take5414 no heed3820 unto all words1697 that are spoken1696; lest thou hear8085 thy servant5650 curse7043 thee:
22For oftentimes6471 7227 also thine own heart3820 knoweth3045 that thou thyself likewise hast cursed7043 others312.
23All this2090 have I proved5254 by wisdom2451: I said559, I will be wise2449; but it was far7350 from me.
24That which is far off7350, and exceeding deep6013, who can find it out4672?
25I applied5437 mine heart3820 to know3045, and to search8446, and to seek out1245 wisdom2451, and the reason2808 of things, and to know3045 the wickedness7562 of folly3689, even of foolishness5531 and madness1947:
26And I find4672 more bitter4751 than death4194 the woman802, whose heart3820 is snares4685 and nets2764, and her hands3027 as bands612: whoso pleaseth2896 6440 God430 shall escape4422 from her; but the sinner2398 shall be taken3920 by her.
27Behold7200, this have I found4672, saith559 the preacher6953, counting one259 by one259, to find out4672 the account2808:
28Which yet my soul5315 seeketh1245, but I find4672 not: one259 man120 among a thousand505 have I found4672; but a woman802 among all those have I not found4672.
29Lo7200, this only905 have I found4672, that God430 hath made6213 man120 upright3477; but they have sought out1245 many7227 inventions2810.