1Remedies against the vanity of life are, a good name, 2mortification, 7patience, 11wisdom, or a considerate and prudent conduct. 23The difficulty of getting wisdom. 25The result of the Preacher's researches.
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1A 1GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and 2the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2¶ 1It 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.
3aSorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4The 1heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; 2but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
51It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6For 1as the acrackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7¶ Surely 1oppression maketh a wise man mad; 2and a gift destroyeth the heart.
81Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and2the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9Be 1not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
101Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire awisely concerning this.
11¶ Wisdom isagood 1with an inheritance: and by it there is2profit to them that see the sun.
12For 1wisdom is a adefence, and money is a bdefence: but the excellency of knowledge is,2that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13Consider the work of God: for 1who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14In 1the day of prosperity be joyful, but 2in the day of adversity consider: 3God also hath aset the one over against the other, 4to the end that 5man should find nothing after him.
151All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and 2there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
16Be 1not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: 2why shouldest thou adestroy thyself?
171Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: 2why shouldest thou die abefore thy time?
18it is1good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: 2for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
191Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
20For 1there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
21Also atake no 1heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22For 1oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23¶ 1All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, 2I will be wise; but it was far from me.
241That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25aI applied 1mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the 2reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26And 1I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: awhoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27Behold, this have I found, saith 1the preacher, acounting one by one, to find out the account:
28Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: 1one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among 2all those have I not found.
29Lo, this only have I found, 1that God hath made man upright; 2but they have sought out many inventions.