New American Standard Bible 1995

King James Bible

1A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.

1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart.

2It 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.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool; And this too is futility.

6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

7For oppression makes a wise man mad, And a bribe corrupts the heart.

7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

10Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an advantage to those who see the sun.

11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

12For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

14In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider-- God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

14In 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.

15I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.

15All 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.

16Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?

16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

18It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.

18It 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.

19Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others.

22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it?

24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25I directed my mind to know, to investigate and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness.

25I 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:

26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

26And 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.

27"Behold, I have discovered this," says the Preacher, "adding one thing to another to find an explanation,

27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.

28Which 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.

29"Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices."

29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.