1A good name is more worth than a precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.
2It is better to go into an house of mourning, than into a banquet(bancket) house. For there is the end of all men, and he that is living, taketh it to heart.
3It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy, the heart is joyful.
4The heart of the wise is in the mourning house, but the heart of the foolish is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to give ear to the chastening of a wise man, than to hear the song of fools.
6For the laughting of fools is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. And that is but a vain thing.
7Who so doeth wrong, maketh a wise man to go out of his wit, and destroyeth a gentle heart.
8The end of a thing is better than the beginning. The patient of spirit is better than the high minded.
9Be not hastily angry in thy mind, for wrath resteth in the bosom of a fool.
10Say not thou: What is the cause that the days of the old time were better, than they that be now? For that were no wise question.
11Wisdom is better than riches, yea much more worth than the eyesight.
12For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life to him that have it in possession.
13Consider the work of God, how that no man can make the thing straight, which he maketh crooked.
14Use well the time of prosperity and remember the time of misfortune: For God maketh one by the other, so that a man can find nothing else.
15These two things also have I considered in the time of vanity: that the just man perisheth for his righteousness' sake, and the ungodly liveth in his wickedness.
16Therefore be thou neither too righteous nor over wise, that thou perish not:
17be neither too unrighteous also nor too foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
18It is good for thee to take hold of this, and not to let that go out of thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape them all.
19Wisdom giveth more courage unto the wise, than ten mighty men of the city.
20For there is not one just upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
21Take not heed unto every word that is spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22For thine own heart knoweth, that thou thyself also hast oft times spoken evil by other men.
23All these things have I proved because of wisdom: For I thought to be wise, but she went farther from me than she was before,
24yea and so deep that I might not reach unto her.
25I applied my mind also to knowledge, and to seek out science, wisdom and understanding: to know the foolishness of the ungodly, and the error of doting fools.
26And I found, that a woman is bitterer than death: for she is a very angle, her heart is a net, and her hands are chains. Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner will be taken with her.
27Behold (sayeth the preacher) this have I diligently searched out and proved, that I might come by knowledge: which as yet I seek, and find it not.
28Among a thousand men I have found one, but not one woman among all.
29Lo, this onely have I found, that God made man just and right, but they seek divers sotylties,(subtleties or sodalities)