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

A good name is better than precious oil; 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.

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 whole.

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

4 T he heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

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 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 T he 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.

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

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

Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

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

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

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

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

10 N ever say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

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

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

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

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

For 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.

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

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

14 I n 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.

In 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.

15 A ll 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.

All 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.

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

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

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

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

18 I t 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.

It 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.

19 W isdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

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

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

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

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

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

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

for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

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

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

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

That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?

25 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;

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 a nd 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.

And 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.

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

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

28 w hich 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.

which 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.

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

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