Ecclesiastes

A good name [is] better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

[It is] better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.

Sorrow [is] better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better.

The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of laughter.

[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool; this also [is] vanity.

Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a bribe destroys the heart.

Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning of it; the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Do not say, Why was [it] that the former days were better than these? For you do not ask wisely in regard to this.

Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance; but it is gain to those who see the sun.

For wisdom [is] a defense, and money [is] a defense; but the excellency of knowledge [is] that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity take note [that] God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

All [things] I have seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just one who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked one who prolongs [life] in his wickedness.

Do not be righteous overmuch, neither make yourself overwise; why destroy yourself?

Do not be very wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?

[It is] good that you should take hold of this; yea, also from this do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from all of them.

Wisdom makes the wise stronger than ten mighty ones who are in the city.

For [there is] not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.

Also do not listen to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you.

For also your own heart knows that you yourself have also cursed others many times.

All this I have proved by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.

That which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?

I set my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness;

and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] snares and nets, and her hands [like] bands. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Behold, this I have found, says the Preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the sum,

which my soul still sought, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.