1 A good name is better than precious perfume, and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

¶ A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

2 I t 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 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 S orrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made whole.

4 T he heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth and sensual joy.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5 I t is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6 F or like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

The laughter of the fool is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is vanity.

7 S urely oppression and extortion make a wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding and judgment.

¶ Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8 B etter is the end of a thing than the beginning of it, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 D o not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.

Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 D o not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise or because of wisdom that you ask this.

Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 W isdom is as good as an inheritance, yes, more excellent it is for those who see the sun.

¶ Knowledge is good with an inheritance and is the excellency of those that see the sun.

12 F or wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the life of him who has it.

For knowledge is a defence, and money is a defence; but wisdom excels in that it gives life to those that have it.

13 C onsider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight that which he has twisted?

14 I n the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him.

In the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your eyes and learn: God also has made the one (the day of adversity) before the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 I have seen everything in the days of my vanity (my emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility): there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his days by his wickedness.

16 B e not righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself overwise—why should you destroy yourself ?

Do not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise in thine own eyes: why should thou destroy thyself?

17 b e not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish—why should you die before your time?

Do not be hasty to condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?

18 I t is good that you should take hold of this and from that withdraw not your hand; for he who fears and worships God will come forth from them all.

It is good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.

19 w isdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers or valiant generals who are in the city.

Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 S urely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins.

For surely there is not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.

21 D o not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you—

Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:

22 F or often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.

For thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.

23 A ll this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise —but it was far from me.

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

24 T hat which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep—who can find it out ?

That which has been is far off and that which is 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.

I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;

26 A nd I found that more bitter than death is 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.

and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.

27 B ehold, this I have found, says the Preacher, while weighing one thing after another to find out the right estimate —

Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, weighing things one by one to find out the answer,

28 W hich I am still seeking but have not found—one upright man among a thousand have I found, but an upright woman among all those have I not found.

which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.

29 B ehold, this is the only I have found: God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.