A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting. The Preacher says to be neither overly righteous nor overly wicked, for no one is perfectly righteous.
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 .