| 1 | A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. |
| 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 will lay [it] to his heart. |
| 3 | Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. |
| 4 | The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth. |
| 5 | [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. |
| 6 | For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity. |
| 7 | Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. |
| 8 | Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit. |
| 9 | Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. |
| 10 | Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. |
| 11 | Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun. |
| 12 | For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it. |
| 13 | Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked? |
| 14 | In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. |
| 15 | All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness. |
| 16 | Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? |
| 17 | Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? |
| 18 | [It is] good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. |
| 19 | Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city. |
| 20 | For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. |
| 21 | Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: |
| 22 | For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. |
| 23 | All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me. |
| 24 | That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? |
| 25 | I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness: |
| 26 | 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 | Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account: |
| 28 | Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. |
| 29 | Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. |
