King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.
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.
2 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 men, and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
7 Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the mind.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
9 Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
10 Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
12 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.
12 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.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
13 Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
15 In my vain life I have seen everything; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
16 Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?
17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
17 Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
21 Do not give heed to all the things that men say, lest you hear your servant cursing you;
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22 your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
24 That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
25 I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness which is madness.
26 And I find more bitter than death 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.
26 And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters; he who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum,
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
28 which my mind has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
29 Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.