1A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of one's death than the day of his birth.
2It 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 heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool. This also is vanity.
7Surely the gain of oppression maketh a wise man foolish, and a gift corrupteth the understanding.
8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Say not, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is as good as an estate? yea, it hath an advantage over it for them that see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13Consider the work of God! Who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.
15All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.
16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself over-wise! Why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou a fool! Why shouldst thou die before thy time?
18It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20Truly there is not a righteous man upon the earth who doeth good and sinneth not.
21Give no heed to all the words which are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee!
22For many times thine own heart knoweth also that even thou thyself hast cursed others.
23All this have I tried by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise;” but it was far from me.
24That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.
26And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, putting one thing to another to find knowledge.
28That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.
29Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.