Dual Panel1A good<2896> name<8034> is better<2896> than<4480> a good<2896> ointment<8081>, And the day<3117> of one's death<4194> is better than<4480> the day<3117> of one's birth<3205>.
2It is better<2896> to go<1980> to a house<1004> of mourning<60> Than<4480> to go<1980> to a house<1004> of feasting<4960>, Because<834> that is the end<5490> of every<3605> man<120>, And the living<2416> takes<5414> it to heart<3820>.
3Sorrow<3708> is better<2896> than<4480> laughter<7814>, For when a face<6440> is sad<7455> a heart<3820> may be happy<3190>.
4The mind<3820> of the wise<2450> is in the house<1004> of mourning<60>, While the mind<3820> of fools<3684> is in the house<1004> of pleasure<8057>.
5It is better<2896> to listen<8085> to the rebuke<1606> of a wise<2450> man<2450> Than<4480> for one<376> to listen<8085> to the song<7892> of fools<3684>.
6For as the crackling<6963> of thorn<5518> bushes<5518> under<8478> a pot<5518>, So<3651> is the laughter<7814> of the fool<3684>; And this<2088> too<1571> is futility<1892>.
7For oppression<6233> makes<1984> a wise<2450> man<2450> mad<1984>, And a bribe<4979> corrupts<6> the heart<3820>.
8The end<319> of a matter<1697> is better<2896> than<4480> its beginning<7225>; Patience<750> of spirit<7307> is better<2896> than<4480> haughtiness<1364> of spirit<7307>.
9Do not be eager<926> in your heart<7307> to be angry<3707>, For anger<3708> resides<5117> in the bosom<2436> of fools<3684>.
10Do not say<559>, "Why<4100> is it that the former<7223> days<3117> were better<2896> than<4480> these<428>?" For it is not from wisdom<2451> that you ask<7592> about<5921> this<2088>.
11Wisdom<2451> along<5973> with an inheritance<5159> is good<2896> And an advantage<3148> to those who see<7200> the sun<8121>.
12For wisdom<2451> is protection<6738> just as money<3701> is protection<6738>, But the advantage<3504> of knowledge<1847> is that wisdom<2451> preserves<2421> the lives<2421> of its possessors<1167>.
13Consider<7200> the work<4639> of God<430>, For who<4310> is able<3201> to straighten<8626> what<834> He has bent<5791>?
14In the day<3117> of prosperity<2899> be happy<2896>, But in the day<3117> of adversity<7463> consider<7200>-- God<430> has made<6213> the one<2088> as well<5980> as the other<2088> So<5921><1700> that man<120> will not discover<4672> anything<3972> that will be after<310> him.
15I have seen<7200> everything<3605> during my lifetime<3117> of futility<1892>; there<3426> is a righteous<6662> man<6662> who perishes<6> in his righteousness<6664> and there<3426> is a wicked<7563> man<7563> who prolongs<748> his life in his wickedness<7463>.
16Do not be excessively<7235> righteous<6662> and do not be overly<3148> wise<2449>. Why<4100> should you ruin<8074> yourself?
17Do not be excessively<7235> wicked<7561> and do not be a fool<5530>. Why<4100> should you die<4191> before<3808> your time<6256>?
18It is good<2896> that you grasp<270> one<2088> thing<2088> and also<1571> not let<5117><3027> go<5117><3027> of the other<2088>; for the one who fears<3372> God<430> comes<3318> forth<3318> with both<3605> of them.
19Wisdom<2451> strengthens<5810> a wise<2450> man<2450> more<4480> than<4480> ten<6235> rulers<7989> who<834> are in a city<5892>.
20Indeed<3588>, there<369> is not a righteous<6662> man<120> on earth<776> who<834> continually does<6213> good<2896> and who never<3808> sins<2398>.
21Also<1571>, do not take<5414> seriously<3820> all<3605> words<1697> which<834> are spoken<1696>, so<3808> that you will not hear<8085> your servant<5650> cursing<7043> you.
22For you also<1571> have realized<3045> that you likewise<1571> have many<7227> times<6471> cursed<7043> others<312>.
23I tested<5254> all<3605> this<2090> with wisdom<2451>, and I said<559>, "I will be wise<2449>," but it was far<7350> from me.
24What<4100> has been<1961> is remote<7350> and exceedingly<6013> mysterious<6013>. Who<4310> can discover<4672> it?
25I directed<5437> my mind<3820> to know<3045>, to investigate<8446> and to seek<1245> wisdom<2451> and an explanation<2808>, and to know<3045> the evil<7562> of folly<3689> and the foolishness<3689> of madness<1947>.
26And I discovered<4672> more<4480> bitter<4751> than<4480> death<4194> the woman<802> whose<834> heart<3820> is snares<4685> and nets<2764>, whose hands<3027> are chains<612>. One<2896> who<2896> is pleasing<2896> to God<430> will escape<4422> from her, but the sinner<2398> will be captured<3920> by her.
27"Behold<7200>, I have discovered<4672> this<2088>," says<559> the Preacher<6953>, "adding one<259> thing<259> to another<259> to find<4672> an explanation<2808>,
28which<834> I am still<5750> seeking<1245> but have not found<4672>. I have found<4672> one<259> man<120> among<4480> a thousand<505>, but I have not found<4672> a woman<802> among all<3605> these<428>.
29"Behold<7200>, I have found<4672> only<905> this<2088>, that God<430> made<6213> men<120> upright<3477>, but they have sought<1245> out many<7227> devices<2810>."