Kohelet 7:1-6; Kohelet 7:11-12; Kohelet 7:19

Kohelet 7:1-6

1 A shem tov is better than precious ointment; and the yom hamavet than the day of one’s birth.

2 It is better to go to the bais evel (house of mourning), than to go to the bais mishteh (house of feasting); for that is the sof (end, conclusion; see 12:13) of kol haAdam; and the living will take it to heart.

3 Ka’as (sorrow) is better than laughter; for sadness of the countenance is good for the lev.

4 The lev of chachamim is in the bais evel (house of mourning); but the lev of kesilim is in the bais simchah.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the chacham, than for an ish to hear the shir kesilim.

6 For as is the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the kesil; this also is hevel.

Kohelet 7:11-12

11 Chochmah is better than a nachalah (inheritance); and by it there is an advantage to them that see the shemesh.

12 For chochmah is a protective tzel (shade), and kesef is as well; but the advantage of da’as is, that chochmah giveth chayyim (life) to them that possess it.

Kohelet 7:19

19 Chochmah makes one chacham stronger than asarah shalitim (ten rulers) which are in the city.