- 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 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 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 maketh the wise man foolish;
and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
- 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 inquire wisely concerning this.
- 11
- Wisdom is as good as an inheritance;
yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
- 12
- For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence;
but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath 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, and in the day of adversity consider;
yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
- 15
- All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.
- 16
- Be not righteous overmuch;
neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
- 17
- Be not overmuch 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 that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
- 19
- Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
- 20
- Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
- 21
- Also take not 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 in wisdom: I said, I will be wise;
but it was far from me.
- 24
- That which is, is far off and exceeding 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 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, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
- 28
- which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found;
but a woman among all those have I not found.
- 29
- Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright;
but they have sought out many inventions.
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