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 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 his 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 glad.

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.

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 to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man 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 as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

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

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

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

Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests 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 were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

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

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable 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 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: for who can make that straight, which he hath 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, 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 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 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 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 make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

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

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

Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: 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 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 that are in a city.

Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.

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

For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

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

Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.

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

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

23 A ll this have I proved in 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 exceeding 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 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 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 have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account;

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

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 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 only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

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