1A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of ones birth. 2It 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 take it to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better. 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 rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity. 7Surely oppression makes a fool out of a wise man; and a bribe destroys the heart. 8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10Do not say, Why were the former days better than these? For you do not ask wisely concerning this. 11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense; but the excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to those who have it. 13Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity take note that God also has ordained the one next to the other, in order that man should not find anything after him. 15I have seen everything in the days of my vanity: There is a just one who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked one who prolongs life in his wickedness. 16Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise; why should you destroy yourself? 17Do not be overly wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time? 18It is good that you should grasp this; yea, also from this do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth out from them all. 19Wisdom makes the wise stronger than ten who dominate the city. 20For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. 21Also do not take to heart all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you. 22For your own heart knows that you yourself have also cursed others many times. 23All this I have proved by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? 25I set my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness; 26and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands like fetters. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be captured by her. 27Behold, this I have found, says the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the reckoning, 28which my soul still seeks, but I find not. One man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found. 29Lo, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.