1
A good name[H8034] is better[H2896] than precious[H2896]ointment[H8081]; and the day[H3117] of death[H4194] than the day[H3117] of one's birth[H3205].
2
It is better[H2896] to go[H3212] to the house[H1004] of mourning[H60], than to go[H3212] to the house[H1004] of feasting[H4960]: for[H834] that is the end[H5490] of all men[H120]; and the living[H2416] will lay[H5414] it to his heart[H3820].
3Sorrow[H3708] is better[H2896] than laughter[H7814]: for by the sadness[H7455] of the countenance[H6440] the heart[H3820] is made better[H3190].
4
The heart[H3820] of the wise[H2450] is in the house[H1004] of mourning[H60]; but the heart[H3820] of fools[H3684] is in the house[H1004] of mirth[H8057].
5
It is better[H2896] to hear[H8085] the rebuke[H1606] of the wise[H2450], than for a man[H376] to hear[H8085] the song[H7892] of fools[H3684].
6
For as the crackling[H6963] of thorns[H5518] under a pot[H5518], so is the laughter[H7814] of the fool[H3684]: this also is vanity[H1892].
7
Surely oppression[H6233] maketh a wise man[H2450]mad[H1984]; and a gift[H4979]destroyeth[H6] the heart[H3820].
8Better[H2896] is the end[H319] of a thing[H1697] than the beginning[H7225] thereof: and the patient[H750] in spirit[H7307] is better[H2896] than the proud[H1362] in spirit[H7307].
9
Be not hasty[H926] in thy spirit[H7307] to be angry[H3707]: for anger[H3708]resteth[H5117] in the bosom[H2436] of fools[H3684].
10Say[H559] not thou, What is the cause that the former[H7223]days[H3117] were better[H2896] than these? for thou dost not enquire[H7592]wisely[H2451] concerning this.
11Wisdom[H2451] is good[H2896] with an inheritance[H5159]: and by it there is profit[H3148] to them that see[H7200] the sun[H8121].
12
For wisdom[H2451] is a defence[H6738], and money[H3701] is a defence[H6738]: but the excellency[H3504] of knowledge[H1847] is, that wisdom[H2451] giveth life[H2421] to them that have[H1167] it.
13Consider[H7200] the work[H4639] of God[H430]: for who can[H3201] make that straight[H8626], which he hath made crooked?[H5791]
14
In the day[H3117] of prosperity[H2896] be joyful[H2896], but in the day[H3117] of adversity[H7451]consider[H7200]: God[H430] also hath set[H6213] the one over against[H5980] the other, to the end[H1700] that man[H120] should find[H4672]nothing[H3972]after[H310] him.
15
All things have I seen[H7200] in the days[H3117] of my vanity[H1892]: there is[H3426] a just[H6662] man that perisheth[H6] in his righteousness[H6664], and there is[H3426] a wicked[H7563] man that prolongeth[H748] his life in his wickedness[H7451].
16
Be not righteous[H6662]over[H3148]much[H7235]; neither make thyself over[H3148]wise[H2449]: why shouldest thou destroy[H8074] thyself?
17
Be not over much[H7235]wicked[H7561], neither be thou foolish[H5530]: why shouldest thou die[H4191] before thy time?[H6256]
18
It is good[H2896] that thou shouldest take hold[H270] of this[H2088]; yea, also from this[H2088]withdraw[H3240] not thine hand[H3027]: for he that feareth[H3373]God[H430] shall come forth[H3318] of them all.
19Wisdom[H2451]strengtheneth[H5810] the wise[H2450] more than ten[H6235]mighty[H7989] men which are in the city[H5892].
20
For there is not a just[H6662]man[H120] upon earth[H776], that doeth[H6213]good[H2896], and sinneth[H2398] not.
21
Also take[H5414] no heed[H3820] unto all words[H1697] that are spoken[H1696]; lest thou hear[H8085] thy servant[H5650]curse[H7043] thee:
22
For oftentimes[H6471] also thine own heart[H3820]knoweth[H3045] that thou thyself likewise hast cursed[H7043]others[H312].
23
All this[H2090] have I proved[H5254] by wisdom[H2451]: I said[H559], I will be wise[H2449]; but it was far[H7350] from me.
24
That which is far off[H7350], and exceeding deep[H6013], who can find it out?[H4672]
25
I applied[H5437] mine heart[H3820] to know[H3045], and to search[H8446], and to seek out[H1245]wisdom[H2451], and the reason[H2808] of things, and to know[H3045] the wickedness[H7562] of folly[H3689], even of foolishness[H5531] and madness[H1947]:
26
And I find[H4672] more bitter[H4751] than death[H4194] the woman[H802], whose heart[H3820] is snares[H4685] and nets[H2764], and her hands[H3027] as bands[H612]: whoso pleaseth[H2896]God[H430] shall escape[H4422] from her; but the sinner[H2398] shall be taken[H3920] by her.
27Behold[H7200], this have I found[H4672], saith[H559] the preacher[H6953], counting one[H259] by one[H259], to find out[H4672] the account[H2808]:
28
Which yet my soul[H5315]seeketh[H1245], but I find[H4672] not: one[H259]man[H120] among a thousand[H505] have I found[H4672]; but a woman[H802] among all those have I not found[H4672].
29Lo[H7200], this only[H905] have I found[H4672], that God[H430] hath made[H6213]man[H120]upright[H3477]; but they have sought out[H1245]many[H7227]inventions[H2810].