A good name is better than fine perfume , and one’s day of death (is better) than his day of birth.
It is better to enter ... a house of mourning than - a house of feasting , since (death) (is) the end of every man , and the living should take (this) to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter , for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise (is) in the house of mourning , but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
For like the crackling of thorns under the pot , so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.
Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool , and a bribe corrupts the heart.
The end of a matter is better than the beginning , (and) a patient spirit is better than a proud (one).
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit , for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
Do not say , “ Why were the old ... days better than these ? ” For vvv it is unwise of you to ask about this.
Wisdom , like an inheritance , (is) good , and it benefits those who see the sun.
For wisdom - , like money , (is) a shelter , and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
Consider - the work of God : - Who can straighten - what He has bent ?
In the day of prosperity , be joyful , but in the day of adversity , consider this ... - : God has made one (of these) along with the other , so that ... a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.
- In my futile life I have seen both of these : - A righteous man perishing in his righteousness , (and) a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
Do not be overly righteous , and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Do not be excessively wicked , and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time ?
It is good - to grasp the one and not let the other slip - from your hand. For he who fears God will follow - both (warnings).
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers - - in a city.
Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
- Do not pay attention - to every word that is spoken , or you may hear - your servant cursing you.
For ... you know in your heart that ... many times you yourself have cursed others.
All this I tested by wisdom, (saying) , “ I resolve to be wise. ” But it was beyond me.
What exists is out of reach and very deep .... Who can fathom it ?
I directed my mind to understand , to explore , to search out wisdom and explanations , and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.
And I find more bitter than death - the woman who ... (is) a snare , whose heart (is) a net , and whose hands (are) chains. The man who pleases ... God escapes her , but the sinner is ensnared
“ Behold , ” says the Teacher , “ I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.
While my soul was still searching but not finding , among a thousand I have found one (upright) man , but among all these I have not found (one such) woman.
Only this have I found : I have discovered that God - made men upright , but they have sought out many schemes. ”