1 A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.

A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better 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 his heart.

It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart.

3 S orrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

4 T he heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

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

It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

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

For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool; And this too is futility.

7 S urely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

For oppression makes a wise man mad, And a bribe corrupts the heart.

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

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

9 B e not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

10 S ay not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

11 W isdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 F or wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

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

Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

14 I n the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything that shall be after him.

In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

15 A ll this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.

I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

16 B e not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?

17 B e not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

18 I t is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.

It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.

19 W isdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

20 S urely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

21 A lso take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

22 f or oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

23 A ll this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

24 T hat which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?

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 directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.

26 A nd I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

27 B ehold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;

“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “ adding one thing to another to find an explanation,

28 w hich my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.

29 B ehold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”