Ecclesiastes 7 (kjv)

A good name^H8034 is better^H2896 than precious^H2896 ointment^H8081; and the day^H3117 of death^H4194 than the day^H3117 of one's birth^H3205.

²It is better^H2896 to go^H3212 to the house^H1004 of mourning^H60, than to go^H3212 to the house^H1004 of feasting^H4960: for^H834 that is the end^H5490 of all men^H120; and the living^H2416 will lay^H5414 it to his heart^H3820.³Sorrow^H3708 is better^H2896 than laughter^H7814: for by the sadness^H7455 of the countenance^H6440 the heart^H3820 is made better^H3190.⁴The heart^H3820 of the wise^H2450 is in the house^H1004 of mourning^H60; but the heart^H3820 of fools^H3684 is in the house^H1004 of mirth^H8057.⁵It is better^H2896 to hear^H8085 the rebuke^H1606 of the wise^H2450, than for a man^H376 to hear^H8085 the song^H7892 of fools^H3684.⁶For as the crackling^H6963 of thorns^H5518 under a pot^H5518, so is the laughter^H7814 of the fool^H3684: this also is vanity^H1892.

⁷Surely oppression^H6233 maketh a wise man^H2450 mad^H1984; and a gift^H4979 destroyeth^H6 the heart^H3820.⁸Better^H2896 is the end^H319 of a thing^H1697 than the beginning^H7225 thereof: and the patient^H750 in spirit^H7307 is better^H2896 than the proud^H1362 in spirit^H7307.⁹Be not hasty^H926 in thy spirit^H7307 to be angry^H3707: for anger^H3708 resteth^H5117 in the bosom^H2436 of fools^H3684.¹⁰Say^H559 not thou, What is the cause that the former^H7223 days^H3117 were better^H2896 than these? for thou dost not enquire^H7592 wisely^H2451 concerning this.

¹¹Wisdom^H2451 is good^H2896 with an inheritance^H5159: and by it there is profit^H3148 to them that see^H7200 the sun^H8121.¹²For wisdom^H2451 is a defence^H6738, and money^H3701 is a defence^H6738: but the excellency^H3504 of knowledge^H1847 is, that wisdom^H2451 giveth life^H2421 to them that have^H1167 it.¹³Consider^H7200 the work^H4639 of God^H430: for who can^H3201 make that straight^H8626, which he hath made crooked^H5791?¹⁴In the day^H3117 of prosperity^H2896 be joyful^H2896, but in the day^H3117 of adversity^H7451 consider^H7200: God^H430 also hath set^H6213 the one over against^H5980 the other, to the end^H1700 that man^H120 should find^H4672 nothing^H3972 after^H310 him.¹⁵All things have I seen^H7200 in the days^H3117 of my vanity^H1892: there is^H3426 a just^H6662 man that perisheth^H6 in his righteousness^H6664, and there is a wicked^H7563 man that prolongeth^H748 his life in his wickedness^H7451.¹⁶Be not righteous^H6662 over much^H7235; neither make thyself over^H3148 wise^H2449: why shouldest thou destroy^H8074 thyself?¹⁷Be not over much^H7235 wicked^H7561, neither be thou foolish^H5530: why shouldest thou die^H4191 before thy time^H6256?¹⁸It is good^H2896 that thou shouldest take hold^H270 of this; yea, also from this^H2088 withdraw^H3240 not thine hand^H3027: for he that feareth^H3373 God^H430 shall come forth^H3318 of them all.¹⁹Wisdom^H2451 strengtheneth^H5810 the wise^H2450 more than ten^H6235 mighty^H7989 men which are in the city^H5892.²⁰For there is not a just^H6662 man^H120 upon earth^H776, that doeth^H6213 good^H2896, and sinneth^H2398 not.²¹Also take^H5414 no heed^H3820 unto all words^H1697 that are spoken^H1696; lest thou hear^H8085 thy servant^H5650 curse^H7043 thee:²²For oftentimes^{H6471 H7227} also thine own heart^H3820 knoweth^H3045 that thou thyself likewise hast cursed^H7043 others^H312.

²³All this^H2090 have I proved^H5254 by wisdom^H2451: I said^H559, I will be wise^H2449; but it was far^H7350 from me.²⁴That which is far off^H7350, and exceeding deep^H6013, who can find it out^H4672?²⁵I applied^H5437 mine heart^H3820 to know^H3045, and to search^H8446, and to seek out^H1245 wisdom^H2451, and the reason^H2808 of things, and to know^H3045 the wickedness^H7562 of folly^H3689, even of foolishness^H5531 and madness^H1947:²⁶And I find^H4672 more bitter^H4751 than death^H4194 the woman^H802, whose heart^H3820 is snares^H4685 and nets^H2764, and her hands^H3027 as bands^H612: whoso pleaseth^{H2896 H6440} God^H430 shall escape^H4422 from her; but the sinner^H2398 shall be taken^H3920 by her.²⁷Behold^H7200, this have I found^H4672, saith^H559 the preacher^H6953, counting one^H259 by one^H259, to find out^H4672 the account^H2808:²⁸Which yet my soul^H5315 seeketh^H1245, but I find^H4672 not: one^H259 man^H120 among a thousand^H505 have I found^H4672; but a woman^H802 among all those have I not found^H4672.²⁹Lo^H7200, this only^H905 have I found^H4672, that God^H430 hath made^H6213 man^H120 upright^H3477; but they have sought out^H1245 many^H7227 inventions^H2810.