1 A good name8034 is better2896 than precious2896 ointment;8081 and the day3117 of death4194 than the day3117 of one's birth.3205

2 It is better2896 to go3212 to the house1004 of mourning,60 than to go3212 to the house1004 of feasting:4960 for that is the end5490 of all3605 men;120 and the living2416 will lay5414 it to his heart.3820

3 Sorrow3708 is better2896 than laughter:7814 for by the sadness7455 of the countenance6440 the heart3820 is made better.3190

4 The heart3820 of the wise2450 is in the house1004 of mourning;60 but the heart3820 of fools3684 is in the house1004 of mirth.8057

5 It is better2896 to hear8085 the rebuke1606 of the wise,2450 than for a man376 to hear8085 the song7892 of fools.3684

6 For as the crackling6963 of thorns5518 under8478 a pot,5518 so3651 is the laughter7814 of the fool:3684 this2088 also1571 is vanity.1892

7 Surely3588 oppression6233 makes a wise2450 man mad;1984 and a gift4979 destroys6 the heart.3820

8 Better2896 is the end319 of a thing1697 than the beginning7225 thereof: and the patient750 in spirit7307 is better2896 than the proud1362 in spirit.7307

9 Be not hasty926 in your spirit7307 to be angry:3707 for anger3708 rests5117 in the bosom2436 of fools.3684

10 Say559 not you, What4100 is the cause1961 that the former7223 days3117 were better2896 than these?428 for you do not inquire7592 wisely2451 concerning5921 this.2088

11 Wisdom2451 is good2896 with an inheritance:5159 and by it there is profit3148 to them that see7200 the sun.8121

12 For wisdom2451 is a defense,6738 and money3701 is a defense:6738 but the excellency3504 of knowledge1847 is, that wisdom2451 gives life2421 to them that have1167 it.

13 Consider7200 the work4639 of God:430 for who4310 can3201 make that straight,8626 which834 he has made crooked?5791

14 In the day3117 of prosperity2896 be joyful,2896 but in the day3117 of adversity7451 consider:7200 God430 also1571 has set6213 the one2088 over5980 against5980 the other,2088 to the end1700 that man120 should find4672 nothing3808 3972 after310 him.

15 All3605 things have I seen7200 in the days3117 of my vanity:1892 there is a just6662 man that perishes6 in his righteousness,6664 and there is a wicked7563 man that prolongs748 his life in his wickedness.7451

16 Be not righteous6662 over7235 much;7235 neither408 make yourself over3148 wise:2449 why4100 should you destroy8074 yourself?

17 Be not over7235 much7235 wicked,7561 neither408 be you foolish:5530 why4100 should you die4191 before3808 your time?6256

18 It is good2896 that you should take270 hold270 of this;2088 yes,1571 also1571 from this2088 withdraw3240 not your hand:3027 for he that fears3373 God430 shall come3318 forth3318 of them all.3605

19 Wisdom2451 strengthens5810 the wise2450 more than ten6235 mighty7989 men which834 are in the city.5892

20 For there is not a just6662 man120 on earth,776 that does6213 good,2896 and sins2398 not.

21 Also1571 take5414 no408 heed5414 3820 to all3605 words1697 that are spoken;1696 lest634 3808 you hear8085 your servant5650 curse7043 you:

22 For oftentimes6471 7227 also1571 your own heart3820 knows3045 that you yourself859 likewise1571 have cursed7043 others.312

23 All3605 this2090 have I proved5254 by wisdom:2451 I said,559 I will be wise;2449 but it was far7350 from me.

24 That which4100 is far7350 off, and exceeding deep,6013 who4310 can find4672 it out?

25 I applied5437 my heart3820 to know,3045 and to search,8446 and to seek1245 out wisdom,2451 and the reason2808 of things, and to know3045 the wickedness7562 of folly,3689 even of foolishness5531 and madness:1947

26 And I find4672 more bitter4751 than death4194 the woman,802 whose834 1931 heart3820 is snares4685 and nets,2764 and her hands3027 as bands:612 whoever pleases2896 6440 God430 shall escape4422 from her; but the sinner2398 shall be taken3920 by her.

27 Behold,7200 this2088 have I found,4672 said559 the preacher,6953 counting one259 by one,259 to find4672 out the account:2808

28 Which834 yet5750 my soul5315 seeks,1245 but I find4672 not: one259 man120 among a thousand505 have I found;4672 but a woman802 among all3605 those428 have I not found.4672

29 See,7200 this2088 only905 have I found,4672 that God430 has made6213 man120 upright;3477 but they have sought1245 out many7227 inventions.2810