1 A good name|strong="H8034" is better|strong="H2896" than precious|strong="H2896" ointment|strong="H8081"; and the day|strong="H3117" of death|strong="H4194" than the day|strong="H3117" of one’s birth|strong="H3205".
2 It is better|strong="H2896" to go|strong="H3212" to the house|strong="H1004" of mourning|strong="H0060", than to go|strong="H3212" to the house|strong="H1004" of feasting|strong="H4960": for|strong="H0834" that is the end|strong="H5490" of all men|strong="H0120"; and the living|strong="H2416" will lay|strong="H5414" it to his heart|strong="H3820".
3 Sorrow|strong="H3708" is better|strong="H2896" than laughter|strong="H7814": for by the sadness|strong="H7455" of the countenance|strong="H6440" the heart|strong="H3820" is made better|strong="H3190".
4 The heart|strong="H3820" of the wise|strong="H2450" is in the house|strong="H1004" of mourning|strong="H0060"; but the heart|strong="H3820" of fools|strong="H3684" is in the house|strong="H1004" of mirth|strong="H8057".
5 It is better|strong="H2896" to hear|strong="H8085" the rebuke|strong="H1606" of the wise|strong="H2450", than for a man|strong="H0376" to hear|strong="H8085" the song|strong="H7892" of fools|strong="H3684".
6 For as the crackling|strong="H6963" of thorns|strong="H5518" under a pot|strong="H5518", so is the laughter|strong="H7814" of the fool|strong="H3684": this also is vanity|strong="H1892".
7 Surely oppression|strong="H6233" maketh a wise man|strong="H2450" mad|strong="H1984"; and a gift|strong="H4979" destroyeth|strong="H0006" the heart|strong="H3820".
8 Better|strong="H2896" is the end|strong="H0319" of a thing|strong="H1697" than the beginning|strong="H7225" thereof: and the patient|strong="H0750" in spirit|strong="H7307" is better|strong="H2896" than the proud|strong="H1362" in spirit|strong="H7307".
9 Be not hasty|strong="H0926" in thy spirit|strong="H7307" to be angry|strong="H3707": for anger|strong="H3708" resteth|strong="H5117" in the bosom|strong="H2436" of fools|strong="H3684".
10 Say|strong="H0559" not thou, What is the cause that the former|strong="H7223" days|strong="H3117" were better|strong="H2896" than these? for thou dost not enquire|strong="H7592" wisely|strong="H2451" concerning this.
11 Wisdom|strong="H2451" is good|strong="H2896" with an inheritance|strong="H5159": and by it there is profit|strong="H3148" to them that see|strong="H7200" the sun|strong="H8121".
12 For wisdom|strong="H2451" is a defence|strong="H6738", and money|strong="H3701" is a defence|strong="H6738": but the excellency|strong="H3504" of knowledge|strong="H1847" is, that wisdom|strong="H2451" giveth life|strong="H2421" to them that have|strong="H1167" it.
13 Consider|strong="H7200" the work|strong="H4639" of God|strong="H0430": for who can|strong="H3201" make that straight|strong="H8626", which he hath made crooked|strong="H5791"?
14 In the day|strong="H3117" of prosperity|strong="H2896" be joyful|strong="H2896", but in the day|strong="H3117" of adversity|strong="H7451" consider|strong="H7200": God|strong="H0430" also hath set|strong="H6213" the one over against|strong="H5980" the other, to the end|strong="H1700" that man|strong="H0120" should find|strong="H4672" nothing|strong="H3972" after|strong="H0310" him.
15 All things have I seen|strong="H7200" in the days|strong="H3117" of my vanity|strong="H1892": there is|strong="H3426" a just|strong="H6662" man that perisheth|strong="H0006" in his righteousness|strong="H6664", and there is a wicked|strong="H7563" man that prolongeth|strong="H0748" his life in his wickedness|strong="H7451".
16 Be not righteous|strong="H6662" over much|strong="H7235"; neither make thyself over|strong="H3148" wise|strong="H2449": why shouldest thou destroy|strong="H8074" thyself?
17 Be not over much|strong="H7235" wicked|strong="H7561", neither be thou foolish|strong="H5530": why shouldest thou die|strong="H4191" before thy time|strong="H6256"?
18 It is good|strong="H2896" that thou shouldest take hold|strong="H0270" of this; yea, also from this|strong="H2088" withdraw|strong="H3240" not thine hand|strong="H3027": for he that feareth|strong="H3373" God|strong="H0430" shall come forth|strong="H3318" of them all.
19 Wisdom|strong="H2451" strengtheneth|strong="H5810" the wise|strong="H2450" more than ten|strong="H6235" mighty|strong="H7989" men which are in the city|strong="H5892".
20 For there is not a just|strong="H6662" man|strong="H0120" upon earth|strong="H0776", that doeth|strong="H6213" good|strong="H2896", and sinneth|strong="H2398" not.
21 Also take|strong="H5414" no heed|strong="H3820" unto all words|strong="H1697" that are spoken|strong="H1696"; lest thou hear|strong="H8085" thy servant|strong="H5650" curse|strong="H7043" thee:
22 For oftentimes|strong="H6471" also thine own heart|strong="H3820" knoweth|strong="H3045" that thou thyself likewise hast cursed|strong="H7043" others|strong="H0312".
23 All this|strong="H2090" have I proved|strong="H5254" by wisdom|strong="H2451": I said|strong="H0559", I will be wise|strong="H2449"; but it was far|strong="H7350" from me.
24 That which is far off|strong="H7350", and exceeding deep|strong="H6013", who can find it out|strong="H4672"?
25 I applied|strong="H5437" mine heart|strong="H3820" to know|strong="H3045", and to search|strong="H8446", and to seek out|strong="H1245" wisdom|strong="H2451", and the reason|strong="H2808" of things, and to know|strong="H3045" the wickedness|strong="H7562" of folly|strong="H3689", even of foolishness|strong="H5531" and madness|strong="H1947":
26 And I find|strong="H4672" more bitter|strong="H4751" than death|strong="H4194" the woman|strong="H0802", whose heart|strong="H3820" is snares|strong="H4685" and nets|strong="H2764", and her hands|strong="H3027" as bands|strong="H0612": whoso pleaseth|strong="H2896" God|strong="H0430" shall escape|strong="H4422" from her; but the sinner|strong="H2398" shall be taken|strong="H3920" by her.
27 Behold|strong="H7200", this have I found|strong="H4672", saith|strong="H0559" the preacher|strong="H6953", counting one|strong="H0259" by one|strong="H0259", to find out|strong="H4672" the account|strong="H2808":
28 Which yet my soul|strong="H5315" seeketh|strong="H1245", but I find|strong="H4672" not: one|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0120" among a thousand|strong="H0505" have I found|strong="H4672"; but a woman|strong="H0802" among all those have I not found|strong="H4672".
29 Lo|strong="H7200", this only|strong="H0905" have I found|strong="H4672", that God|strong="H0430" hath made|strong="H6213" man|strong="H0120" upright|strong="H3477"; but they have sought out|strong="H1245" many|strong="H7227" inventions|strong="H2810".