¶ A good name¹ is better than precious² ointment; and the day³ of death than the day of one's birth.

It is better⁴ to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that⁵ is the end of all men; and the living⁶ will lay it to his heart.

Sorrow⁷ is better than laughter: for by⁸ the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

The heart⁹ of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart¹⁰ of fools is in the house of mirth.

It is better¹¹ to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song¹² of fools.

For as¹³ the crackling¹⁴ of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

¶ Surely oppression¹⁵ maketh a wise man mad; and a gift¹⁶ destroyeth the heart.

Better¹⁷ is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient¹⁸ in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Be not hasty¹⁹ in thy spirit to be angry: for anger²⁰ resteth in the bosom of fools.

¶ Say not thou, What²¹ is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely²² concerning this.

¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance²³: and by it there is profit to them²⁴ that see the sun.

For wisdom²⁵ is a defence²⁶, and money is a defence: but the excellency²⁷ of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

Consider²⁸ the work of God: for who²⁹ can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

In the day³⁰ of prosperity be joyful, but³¹ in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set³² the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

All things have I³³ seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just³⁴ man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked³⁵ man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Be not³⁶ righteous over much; neither³⁷ make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself³⁸?

Be not³⁹ over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why⁴⁰ shouldest thou die before thy time⁴¹?

It is good⁴² that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for⁴³ he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

⁴⁴Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

¶ For there⁴⁵ is not a just man upon earth, that doeth⁴⁶ good, and sinneth not.

Also take no heed⁴⁷ unto⁴⁸ all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

For oftentimes also⁴⁹ thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said⁵⁰, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

⁵¹That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

I applied mine heart⁵² to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason⁵³ of things, and to know⁵⁴ the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

And I find⁵⁵ more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God⁵⁶ shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Behold, this have I found, saith⁵⁷ the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account⁵⁸:

Which yet⁵⁹ my soul seeketh, but I find not: one⁶⁰ man among a thousand have I found; but⁶¹ a woman among all those have I not found.

Lo, this only have I found, that God⁶² hath made man upright; but they⁶³ have sought out many inventions.