A good name
is better than precious ointment; and the day of
death than the day of one's birth.
02 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.
03 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the
sadness of the countenance the heart is made
better.
04 The heart of the wise is in the house of
mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house
of mirth.
05 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,
than for a man to hear the song of fools.
06 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so
is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
07 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a
gift destroyeth the heart.
08 Better is the end of a thing than the
beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is
better than the proud in spirit.
09 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 enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it
there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 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: for who can make
that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 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 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.
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16 Be not righteous over much; neither make
thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy
thyself?
17 Be not over much 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 this withdraw not thine
hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of
them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten
mighty men which are in the city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that
doeth good, and sinneth not.
21 Also take no 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 by wisdom: I said, I
will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who
can find it out?
25 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 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 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher,
counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 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 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made
man upright; but they have sought out many
inventions.
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