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[1]Surely there be many things that increase vanity: and what availeth it man?
[2]For who knoweth what is good for man in the life and in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he maketh them as a shadow? For who can show unto man what shall be after him under the sun?
[3]A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of death, than the day that one is born.
[4]It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men: and the living shall lay it to his heart.
[5]Anger is better than laughter: for by a sad look the heart is made better.
[6]The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
[7]Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than that a man should hear the song of fools.
[8]For like the noise of the thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
[9]Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the reward destroyeth the heart.
[10]The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
[11]Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
[12]Say not thou, Why is it that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not inquire wisely of this thing.
[13]Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sun.
[14]For man shall rest in the shadow of wisdom, and in the shadow of silver: but the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life to the possessors thereof.
[15]Behold the work of God: for who can make straight that which he hath made crooked?
[16]In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man should find nothing after him.
[17]I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his justice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.
[18]Be not thou just over much, neither make thyself over wise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?
[19]Be not thou wicked over much, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?
[20]It is good that thou lay hold on this: but yet withdraw not thine hand from that: for he that feareth God, shall come forth of them all.
[21]Wisdom shall strengthen the wise man more than ten mighty princes that are in the city.
[22]Surely there is no man just in the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
[23]Give not thine heart also to all the words that men speak, lest thou do hear thy servant cursing thee.
[24]For often times also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast cursed others.
[25]All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought I will be wise, but it went far from me.
[26]It is far off, what may it be? And it is a profound deepness, who can find it?
[27]I have compassed about, both I and mine heart to know and to inquire and to search wisdom, and reason, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness,
[28]And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands, as bands: he that is good before God, shall be delivered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
[29]Behold, saith the Preacher, this have I found, seeking one by one to find the count:
[30]And yet my soul seeketh, but I find it not: I have found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all have I not found.
[31]Only lo, this have I found, that God hath made man righteous: but they have sought many inventions.
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