7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.
7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.

7:2 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.
7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.

7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.
7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.

7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

7:5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools; this also is vanity.

7:7 Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the mind.
7:7 Surely oppression makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.

7:9 Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
7:9 Do not be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

7:10 Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
7:10 Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

7:11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
7:11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.

7:12 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.
7:12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.

7:13 Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?
7:13 Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?

7:14 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.
7:14 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 mortals may not find out anything that will come after them.

7:15 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.
7:15 In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evil-doing.

7:16 Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?
7:16 Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?

7:17 Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time?
7:17 Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?

7:18 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.
7:18 It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.

7:19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
7:19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers that are in a city.

7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
7:20 Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning.

7:21 Do not give heed to all the things that men say, lest you hear your servant cursing you;
7:21 Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you;

7:22 your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.
7:22 your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.

7:23 All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise"; but it was far from me.
7:23 All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

7:24 That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
7:24 That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?

7:25 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.
7:25 I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness.

7:26 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.
7:26 I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters; one who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

7:27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum,
7:27 See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum,

7:28 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.
7:28 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.

7:29 Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
7:29 See, this alone I found, that God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes.