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The Value of Wisdom
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Wisdom and Folly Contrasted
A good name is better than a good ointment,
And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.
A good name is better than a good ointment,
And the day of one’s death is better 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: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
For oppression makes a wise man mad,
And a bribe corrupts the heart.
And a bribe corrupts the heart.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.
Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
For anger resides in the bosom of fools.
Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
Wisdom along with an inheritance is good
And an advantage to those who see the sun.
And an advantage to those who see the sun.
For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.
Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
Consider the work of God,
For who is able to straighten what He has bent?
For who is able to straighten what He has bent?
In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
In the day of prosperity be happy,
But in the day of adversity consider —
God has made the one as well as the other
So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.
But in the day of adversity consider —
God has made the one as well as the other
So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.
Limits of Human Wisdom
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.
Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.
For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.
Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?
I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.
and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.
See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation,
which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.