1 A [good] name is better than precious oil; 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 man; 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 glad.

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 extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Don't be in a hurry in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Don't say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yes, more excellent is it for those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that will be] after him.

15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs [his life] in his evildoing.

16 Don't be overly righteous; neither make yourself overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?

17 Don't be overly wicked, neither be foolish: why should you die before your time?

18 It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand: for he who fears God will come forth from them all.

19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 Surely there is not [a] righteous man on earth, that does good, and does not sin.

21 Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your slave curse you;

22 for oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others.

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

24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep; who can find it out?

25 I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bindings: whoever pleases God will escape from her; but the sinner will be taken by her.

27 Look, this I have found, says the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;

28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: of man one among a thousand I have found; but a woman among all those I have not found.

29 Look, this only I have found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.