1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

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 a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.

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 when the face is sad, the heart may be improved.

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 pleasure.

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 a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools—this too is meaningless.

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

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

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

9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

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

10 Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions.

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 as good as an inheritance, and it is an advantage for those who see the light of day.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.

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: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?

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

14 When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

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 In my fleeting life, I have seen it all: The righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

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 Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself too wise—why destroy yourself?

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not act foolishly—why should you die before your time?

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18 It is good to grasp one thing and not let go of the other, for the one who fears God will avoid all extremes.

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 makes a wise person stronger than ten rulers in a city.

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

20 Surely there is no one righteous on earth who always does good and never sins.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

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

22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

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

23 All this I tested by wisdom and said, 'I will be wise,' but it was beyond me.

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

24 What exists is far off and exceedingly deep—who can discover it?

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

25 I turned my mind to understand, to investigate, and to search out wisdom and the meaning of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

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 I found that more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be caught by her.

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 'See,' says the Teacher, 'this is what I have discovered, adding one thing to another to understand the scheme of things.'

Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

28 While I was still searching but not finding, I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.

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 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.

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