Dual Panel1A good <02896> reputation <08034> is better <02896> than precious perfume <08081>; likewise, the day <03117> of one’s death <04194> is better than the day <03117> of one’s birth <03205>.
2It is better <02896> to go <01980> to <0413> a funeral <060> than a feast <04960>. For <0834> death <01931> is the destiny <05490> of every <03605> person <0120>, and the living <02416> should take <05414> this to <0413> heart <03820>.
3Sorrow <03708> is better <02896> than laughter <07814>, because <03588> sober reflection <07455> is good <03190> for <06440> the heart <03820>.
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 merrymaking <08057>.
5It is better <02896> for a person <0376> to receive <08085> a rebuke <01606> from those who are wise <02450> than to listen <08085> to the song <07892> of fools <03684>.
6For <03588> like the crackling <06963> of quick-burning thorns <05518> under <08478> a cooking pot <05518>, so <03651> is the laughter <07814> of the fool <03684>. This <02088> kind of folly also <01571> is useless <01892>.
7Surely oppression <06233> can turn a wise person <02450> into a fool <01984>; likewise, a bribe <04979> corrupts <06> the heart <03820>.
8The end <0319> of a matter <01697> is better <02896> than its beginning <07225>; likewise, patience <07307> <0750> is better <02896> than pride <07307> <01362>.
9Do not <0408> let yourself be quickly <0926> provoked <03707>, for <03588> anger <03708> resides <05117> in the lap <02436> of fools <03684>.
10Do not <0408> say <0559>, “Why <04100> were <01961> the old <07223> days <03117> better <02896> than these <0428> days?” for <03588> it is not <03808> wise <02451> to ask <07592> that <02088>.
11Wisdom <02451>, like an inheritance <05159>, is a good <02896> thing; it benefits <03148> those who see <07200> the light of day <08121>.
12For <03588> wisdom <02451> provides protection <06738>, just as money <03701> provides protection <06738>. But the advantage <03504> of knowledge <01847> is this: Wisdom <02451> preserves the life <02421> of its owner <01167>.
13Consider <07200> the work <04639> of God <0430>: For <03588> who <04310> can <03201> make straight <08626> what <0834> he has bent <05791>?
14In times <03117> of prosperity <02896> be <01961> joyful, but in times <03117> of adversity <07451> consider <07200> this <02088>: God <0430> has made <06213> one as <01571> well <05980> as the other <02088>, so that <01700> no <03808> one <0120> can discover <04672> what the future <0310> holds <03972>.
15During the days <03117> of my fleeting life <01892> I have seen <07200> both of these things <03605>: Sometimes <03426> a righteous person <06662> dies prematurely <06> in spite of his righteousness <06664>, and sometimes <03426> a wicked person <07563> lives long <0748> in spite of his evil <07451> deeds.
16So do not <0408> be <01961> excessively <07235> righteous <06662> or <0408> excessively <03148> wise <02449>; otherwise <04100> you might be disappointed <08074>.
17Do not <0408> be excessively <07235> wicked <07561> and do not <0408> be <01961> a fool <05530>; otherwise <04100> you might die <04191> before <03808> your time <06256>.
18It is best <02896> to take hold <0270> of one warning <02088> without <0408> letting <01571> go <03027> <03240> of the other warning <02088>; for <03588> the one who fears <03373> God <0430> will follow <0854> <03318> both <03605> warnings.
19Wisdom <02451> gives <05810> a wise <02450> person more protection <05810> than ten <06235> rulers <07989> in a city <05892>.
20For <03588> there is not one <0369> truly righteous <06662> person <0120> on the earth <0776> who <0834> continually does <06213> good <02896> and never <03808> sins <02398>.
21Also <01571>, do not <0408> pay <05414> attention <03820> to everything <01697> <03605> that <0834> people say <01696>; otherwise, you might even hear <08085> your servant <05650> cursing <07043> you.
22For <03588> you know <03045> in your own heart <03820> that <0834> you <0859> also <01571> have cursed <07043> others <0312> many <07227> times <06471>.
23I have examined <05254> all <03605> this <02090> by wisdom <02451>; I said <0559>, “I am determined <02449> to comprehend <02449> this <01931>”– but it was beyond <04480> my grasp <07350>.
24Whatever <04100> has happened <01961> is beyond <07350> human understanding; it is far deeper <06013> <06013> than anyone <04310> can fathom <04672>.
25I <0589> tried <05437> to understand <03045>, examine <08446>, and comprehend <01245> the role of wisdom <02451> in the scheme of things <02808>, and to understand <01847> the stupidity <03689> of wickedness <07562> and the insanity <01947> of folly <05531>.
26I <0589> discovered <04672> this: More bitter <04751> than death <04194> is the kind of woman <0802> who <0834> is like a hunter’s snare <04685>; her heart <03820> is like a hunter’s net <02764> and her hands <03027> are like prison chains <0612>. The man who pleases <02896> God <0430> escapes <04422> her, but the sinner <02398> is captured <03920> by <04480> her.
27The Teacher <06953> says <0559>: I discovered <04672> this <02088> while trying to discover <04672> the scheme <02808> of things, item <0259> by item <0259>.
28What <0834> I have continually <05750> sought <01245>, I have not <03808> found <04672>; I have found <04672> only one <0259> upright man <0120> among a thousand <0505>, but I have not <03808> found <04672> one upright <0428> woman <0802> among all <03605> of them.
29This <02088> alone <0905> have I discovered <04672>: God <0430> made <06213> humankind <0120> upright <03477>, but they <01992> have sought <01245> many <07227> evil schemes <02810>.