The Value of Wisdom

1A GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2It 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.

3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

7Surely extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.

8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.

12For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing that shall be after him.

Limits of Human Wisdom

15All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers which are in a city. 20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24That which is is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find it out? 25I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness: 26And I find a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher; laying one thing to another, to find out the account: 28which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.