1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death
better 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 should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than
laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. 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 makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Don’t be hasty
in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not
ask wisely about this.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for
those who see the sun. 12 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 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has
made crooked? 14 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 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 evil-doing. 16 Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly
wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Don’t be too wicked, neither be
foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18 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 forth from them all. 19 Wisdom is a strength to
the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20 Surely there is
not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin. 21 Also don’t
take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise 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 exceedingly deep. Who
can find it out? 25 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 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 Behold, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find
out the scheme; 28 which my soul still seeks; 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 search for many schemes.
World English Bible - Public Domain |