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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 man; 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 makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys 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 Don't be in a hurry in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools.¹⁰ Don't say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

¹¹ Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yes, more excellent is it for those that see the sun.¹² For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserves the life of him that has it.¹³ Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has 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 I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs [his life] in his evil-doing.¹⁶ Don't be overly righteous; neither make yourself overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?¹⁷ Don't be overly wicked, neither be foolish: why should you die before your time?¹⁸ It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand: for he that fears 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 on earth, that does good, and does not sin.²¹ Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your slave curse you;²² for oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others.

²³ All this I have 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: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.²⁷ Look, this I have found, says the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;²⁸ which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: of man one among a thousand I have found; but a woman among all those I have not found.²⁹ Look, this only I have found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.