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.

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 take it to 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 a sad countenance the heart is made better.

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 mirth.

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 for a man 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)!

For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

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

Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases 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.

The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient 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 hasten in your 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.

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

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

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who 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 wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who 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 what He has made crooked?

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 prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come 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.

I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

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

Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

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

Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?

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 you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.

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 rulers of the city.

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

For there is not a just man on earth who does good And 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 everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.

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

For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.

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 ?

As for that which is far off and exceedingly 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, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.

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, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her.

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

Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “ Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,

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 still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these 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.

Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”