1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death better than the day of one's birth. 2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for death is the destiny of all men, and the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter; for sadness has a refining influence upon us. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5It is better to hear the correction of the wise, than to hear the song of fools. 6Like the crackling of thorns under a pot is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.

7Extortion turns wise people into fools, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9Be not quickly provoked to anger; for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”; for it is not wise to ask such questions. 11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and it benefits the living. 12For wisdom is a refuge, and money is a defense; but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom can save your life. 13Consider what God has done; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14When times are good, be content; but in the day of adversity, consider this: God also has made the one as well as the other, to the end that man cannot know what the future holds for him.

15In my days of vanity, I have seen these two things: a just man that perishes in his righteousness; and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. 16Do not be excessively righteous, nor think yourself overly wise. Why destroy yourself? 17But on the other hand, do not be overly wicked, nor be a fool. Why die before your time? 18It is good that you should grasp this; yes, and not let go of it; for he that fears God shall avoid both extremes. 19Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten influential officials in the city. 20For there is not one on earth, that does only good, and never sins.

21Also pay no attention to every word spoken, or you may hear your servant curse you: 22For you know in your own heart that you have likewise cursed others.

23All this have I tested by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to be wise” - but it was far beyond me. 24That which is out of reach, and very profound, who can fathom it? 25So I applied myself to try to understand, to investigate, to seek out wisdom and the scheme of things, and to comprehend the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. 26And I find more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is a trap, and her hands are chains; whoever pleases God shall escape her clutches; but she shall ensnare the sinner. 27“Look, this is what I have discovered”, says the Preacher, “by adding one thing to another, to learn the scheme of things - 28While I yet searched, I did not find what I was looking for: I found one upright man among a thousand; but not one upright woman among them. 29This only have I found: that God has made man upright; but they have gone pursuing many devious schemes.”