Ecclesiastes 7:1–12

A good name is better than precious ointment,

and the day of death than the day of birth.

It is better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for this is the end of all mankind,

and the living will lay it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise

than to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,

so is the laughter of the fools;

this also is vanity.

Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,

and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,

for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

an advantage to those who see the sun.

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,

and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of death better than the day of birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

for death is the destiny of everyone;

the living should take this to heart.

Frustration is better than laughter,

because a sad face 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 the rebuke of a wise person

than to listen to the song of fools.

Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,

so is the laughter of fools.

This too is meaningless.

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,

for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”

For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing

and benefits those who see the sun.

Wisdom is a shelter

as money is a shelter,

but the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves those who have it.

A good name is better than fine perfume,

and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

since that is the end of all mankind,

and the living should take it to heart.

Grief is better than laughter,

for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.

The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.

It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person

than to listen to the song of fools,

for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot,

so is the laughter of the fool.

This too is futile.

Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe corrupts the mind.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.

Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,

for anger abides in the heart of fools.

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”

since it is not wise of you to ask this.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance

and an advantage to those who see the sun,

because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;

but the advantage of knowledge

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.

And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.

After all, everyone dies—

so the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for sadness has a refining influence on us.

A wise person thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Better to be criticized by a wise person

than to be praised by a fool.

A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,

like thorns crackling in a fire.

This also is meaningless.

Extortion turns wise people into fools,

and bribes corrupt the heart.

Finishing is better than starting.

Patience is better than pride.

Control your temper,

for anger labels you a fool.

Don’t long for “the good old days.”

This is not wise.

Wisdom is even better when you have money.

Both are a benefit as you go through life.

Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,

but only wisdom can save your life.

A good name is better than precious ointment,

and the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.

Better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for death is the end of every person,

and the living should take it to his heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Better to listen to the rebuke of the wise

than for a man to listen to the song of fools.

Like the sound of thorns under a pot,

so also the laughter of fools.

This also is vanity!

Surely oppression makes a fool of the wise,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

better to be slow to anger than hot-headed.

Do not be quick in your spirit to anger,

for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance;

it benefits the living.

For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection.

But knowledge has an advantage—wisdom restores life to its possessor.

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 countenance 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 mirth. 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 maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.