| American Standard Version (ASV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
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1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
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2 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.
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2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
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3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
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3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
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4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
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4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
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5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
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5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
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6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
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6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
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7 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
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7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
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8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
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8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
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9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
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9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
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10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
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10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
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11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
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11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
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12 For 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.
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12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.
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13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
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13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
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14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.
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14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
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15 All this have I seen in my days of 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.
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15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
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16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
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16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself ?
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17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
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17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time?
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18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.
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18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes].
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19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
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19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
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20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
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20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
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21 Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;
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21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--
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22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
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22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
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23 All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
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23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"-- but this was beyond me.
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24 That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?
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24 Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?
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25 I 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.
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25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
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26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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26 I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
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27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
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27 "Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things--
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28 which 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.
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28 while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one [upright] man among a thousand, but not one [upright] woman among them all.
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29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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29 This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes."
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| The American Standard Version is in the public domain. (The American Standard Version Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
