Dual Panel1A good name <08034> [is] better <02896> than precious <02896> ointment <08081>_; and the day <03117> of death <04194> than the day <03117> of one's birth <03205> (8736)_.
2[It is] better <02896> to go <03212> (8800) to the house <01004> of mourning <060>_, than to go <03212> (8800) to the house <01004> of feasting <04960>_: for <0834> that [is] the end <05490> of all men <0120>_; and the living <02416> will lay <05414> (8799) [it] to his heart <03820>_.
3Sorrow <03708> [is] better <02896> than laughter <07814>_: for by the sadness <07455> of the countenance <06440> the heart <03820> is made better <03190> (8799)_. {Sorrow: or, Anger}
4The heart <03820> of the wise <02450> [is] in the house <01004> of mourning <060>_; but the heart <03820> of fools <03684> [is] in the house <01004> of mirth <08057>_.
5[It is] better <02896> to hear <08085> (8800) the rebuke <01606> of the wise <02450>_, than for a man <0376> to hear <08085> (8802) the song <07892> of fools <03684>_.
6For as the crackling <06963> of thorns <05518> under a pot <05518>_, so [is] the laughter <07814> of the fool <03684>_: this also [is] vanity <01892>_. {crackling: Heb. sound}
7Surely oppression <06233> maketh a wise man <02450> mad <01984> (8779)_; and a gift <04979> destroyeth <06> (8762) the heart <03820>_.
8Better <02896> [is] the end <0319> of a thing <01697> than the beginning <07225> thereof: [and] the patient <0750> in spirit <07307> [is] better <02896> than the proud <01362> in spirit <07307>_.
9Be not hasty <0926> (8762) in thy spirit <07307> to be angry <03707> (8800)_: for anger <03708> resteth <05117> (8799) in the bosom <02436> of fools <03684>_.
10Say <0559> (8799) not thou, What is [the cause] that the former <07223> days <03117> were better <02896> than these? for thou dost not enquire <07592> (8804) wisely <02451> concerning this. {wisely: Heb. out of wisdom}
11Wisdom <02451> [is] good <02896> with an inheritance <05159>_: and [by it there is] profit <03148> to them that see <07200> (8802) the sun <08121>_. {good...: or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too}
12For wisdom <02451> [is] a defence <06738>_, [and] money <03701> [is] a defence <06738>_: but the excellency <03504> of knowledge <01847> [is, that] wisdom <02451> giveth life <02421> (8762) to them that have <01167> it. {defence: Heb. shadow}
13Consider <07200> (8798) the work <04639> of God <0430>_: for who can <03201> (8799) make [that] straight <08626> (8763)_, which he hath made crooked <05791> (8765)_?
14In the day <03117> of prosperity <02896> be joyful <02896>_, but in the day <03117> of adversity <07451> consider <07200> (8798)_: God <0430> also hath set <06213> (8804) the one over against <05980> the other, to the end <01700> that man <0120> should find <04672> (8799) nothing <03972> after <0310> him. {set: Heb. made}
15All [things] have I seen <07200> (8804) in the days <03117> of my vanity <01892>_: there is <03426> a just <06662> [man] that perisheth <06> (8802) in his righteousness <06664>_, and there is a wicked <07563> [man] that prolongeth <0748> (8688) [his life] in his wickedness <07451>_.
16Be not righteous <06662> over much <07235> (8687)_; neither make thyself over <03148> wise <02449> (8691)_: why shouldest thou destroy <08074> (8709) thyself? {destroy...: Heb. be desolate?}
17Be not over much <07235> (8687) wicked <07561> (8799)_, neither be thou foolish <05530>_: why shouldest thou die <04191> (8799) before thy time <06256>_? {before...: Heb. not in thy time?}
18[It is] good <02896> that thou shouldest take hold <0270> (8799) of this; yea, also from this <02088> withdraw <03240> (8686) not thine hand <03027>_: for he that feareth <03373> God <0430> shall come forth <03318> (8799) of them all.
19Wisdom <02451> strengtheneth <05810> (8799) the wise <02450> more than ten <06235> mighty <07989> [men] which are in the city <05892>_.
20For [there is] not a just <06662> man <0120> upon earth <0776>_, that doeth <06213> (8799) good <02896>_, and sinneth <02398> (8799) not.
21Also take <05414> (8799) no heed <03820> unto all words <01697> that are spoken <01696> (8762)_; lest thou hear <08085> (8799) thy servant <05650> curse <07043> (8764) thee: {take...: Heb. give not thine heart}
22For oftentimes <06471> <07227> also thine own heart <03820> knoweth <03045> (8804) that thou thyself likewise hast cursed <07043> (8765) others <0312>_.
23All this <02090> have I proved <05254> (8765) by wisdom <02451>_: I said <0559> (8804)_, I will be wise <02449> (8799)_; but it [was] far <07350> from me.
24That which is far off <07350>_, and exceeding deep <06013>_, who can find it out <04672> (8799)_?
25I applied <05437> (8804) mine heart <03820> to know <03045> (8800)_, and to search <08446> (8800)_, and to seek out <01245> (8763) wisdom <02451>_, and the reason <02808> [of things], and to know <03045> (8800) the wickedness <07562> of folly <03689>_, even of foolishness <05531> [and] madness <01947>_: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}
26And I find <04672> (8802) more bitter <04751> than death <04194> the woman <0802>_, whose heart <03820> [is] snares <04685> and nets <02764>_, [and] her hands <03027> [as] bands <0612>_: whoso pleaseth <02896> <06440> God <0430> shall escape <04422> (8735) from her; but the sinner <02398> (8802) shall be taken <03920> (8735) by her. {whoso...: Heb. he that is good before God}
27Behold <07200> (8798)_, this have I found <04672> (8804)_, saith <0559> (8804) the preacher <06953>_, [counting] one <0259> by one <0259>_, to find out <04672> (8800) the account <02808>_: {counting...: or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason}
28Which yet my soul <05315> seeketh <01245> (8765)_, but I find <04672> (8804) not: one <0259> man <0120> among a thousand <0505> have I found <04672> (8804)_; but a woman <0802> among all those have I not found <04672> (8804)_.
29Lo <07200> (8798)_, this only <0905> have I found <04672> (8804)_, that God <0430> hath made <06213> (8804) man <0120> upright <03477>_; but they have sought out <01245> (8765) many <07227> inventions <02810>_.