NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.

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.

2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

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.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

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

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

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

5It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

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

6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.

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

7Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.

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

8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.

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

9Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

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

10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these days?" for it is not wise to ask that.

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.

11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

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

12For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

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

13Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?

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

14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

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.

15During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

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.

16So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

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

17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

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

18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

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.

19Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

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

20For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

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

21Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

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

22For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.

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

23I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"--but it was beyond my grasp.

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

24Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.

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

25I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

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.

26I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.

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.

27The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.

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

28What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

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.

29This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.

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

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