A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
2
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
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7
Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
8
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
12
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
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14
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
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
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18
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
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21
Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
22
for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23
All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24
That which is, is far off and exceeding 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.
26
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
Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
28
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
Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
1 [To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
