1 ¶ A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

2 I t 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 S orrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made whole.

4 T he heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5 I t is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6 T he laughter of the fool is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is vanity.

7 ¶ Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8 B etter is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 D o not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 N ever say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 ¶ Knowledge is good with an inheritance and is the excellency of those that see the sun.

12 F or knowledge is a defence, and money is a defence; but wisdom excels in that it gives life to those that have it.

13 C onsider the work of God; for who can make straight that which he has twisted?

14 I n the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your eyes and learn: God also has made the one (the day of adversity) before the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 A ll things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his days by his wickedness.

16 D o not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise in thine own eyes: why should thou destroy thyself?

17 D o not be hasty to condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?

18 I t is good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.

19 W isdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 F or surely there is not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.

21 A lso do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:

22 F or thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.

23 ¶ All this I have proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

24 T hat which has been is far off and that which is exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;

26 a nd I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.

27 B ehold, this I have found, saith the preacher, weighing things one by one to find out the answer,

28 w hich my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.

29 B ehold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.