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 fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

2 B etter 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.

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 should take this to heart.

3 S orrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

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

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

7 S urely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.

Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

8 T he end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 D o not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

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

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

11 W isdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

12 F or wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

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

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

14 I n 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.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

15 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.

All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

16 D o not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

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

Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

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

It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come out of them all.

19 W isdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.

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

20 F or there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.

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

Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

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

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

23 A ll 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 A s for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?

That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

25 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.

I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

26 A nd 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.

I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

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

“Behold, I have found this,” says the Preacher, “to one another, to find out the scheme;

28 W hich 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.

which my soul still seeks; but I have not found. One man among a thousand have I found; but I have not found a woman among all those.

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

Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.”