7:1 A good reputation ¹  is better ²  than precious ³  perfume; ⁴ 

likewise, ⁵  the day of one’s ⁶  death ⁷  is better than the day of one’s birth. ⁸ 

7:2 It is better to go to a funeral ⁹ 

than a feast. ¹⁰ 

For death ¹¹  is the destiny ¹²  of every person, ¹³ 

and the living should ¹⁴  take this ¹⁵  to heart.

7:3 Sorrow ¹⁶  is better than laughter,

because sober reflection ¹⁷  is good for the heart. ¹⁸ 

7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. ¹⁹ 

7:5 It is better for a person to receive ²⁰  a rebuke from those who are wise ²¹ 

than to listen to the song ²²  of fools.

7:6 For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns ²³  under a cooking pot,

so is the laughter of the fool.

This kind of folly ²⁴  also is useless. ²⁵ 

7:7 Surely oppression ²⁶  can turn a wise person into a fool; ²⁷ 

likewise, ²⁸  a bribe corrupts ²⁹  the heart. ³⁰ 

7:8 The end of a matter ³¹  is better than its beginning;

likewise, patience ³²  is better than pride. ³³ 

7:9 Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, ³⁴ 

for anger resides in the lap ³⁵  of fools.

7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” ³⁶ 

for it is not wise to ask that. ³⁷ 

7:11 Wisdom, like ³⁸  an inheritance, is a good thing;

it benefits those who see the light of day. ³⁹ 

7:12 For wisdom provides ⁴⁰  protection, ⁴¹ 

just as ⁴²  money provides protection. ⁴³ 

But the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves the life ⁴⁴  of its owner.

7:13 Consider the work of God:

For who can make straight what he has bent?

7:14 In times of prosperity ⁴⁵  be joyful,

but in times of adversity ⁴⁶  consider this:

God has made one as well as the other, ⁴⁷ 

so that no one can discover what the future holds. ⁴⁸ 

7:15 During the days of my fleeting life ⁴⁹  I have seen both ⁵⁰  of these things:

Sometimes ⁵¹  a righteous person dies prematurely ⁵²  in spite of ⁵³  his righteousness,

and sometimes ⁵⁴  a wicked person lives long ⁵⁵  in spite of his evil deeds.

7:16 So do not be excessively righteous or excessively ⁵⁶  wise; ⁵⁷ 

otherwise ⁵⁸  you might ⁵⁹  be disappointed. ⁶⁰ 

7:17 Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool;

otherwise ⁶¹  you might die before your time.

7:18 It is best to take hold of one warning ⁶²  without letting go of the other warning; ⁶³ 

for the one who fears God will follow ⁶⁴  both warnings. ⁶⁵ 

7:19 Wisdom gives a wise person more protection ⁶⁶ 

than ten rulers in a city.

7:20 For ⁶⁷  there is not one truly ⁶⁸  righteous person on the earth

who continually does good and never sins.

7:21 Also, do not pay attention to everything that people ⁶⁹  say;

otherwise, ⁷⁰  you might even hear ⁷¹  your servant cursing you.

7:22 For you know in your own heart ⁷² 

that you also have cursed others many times.

7:23 I have examined all this by wisdom;

I said, “I am determined ⁷³  to comprehend this” ⁷⁴  – but it was beyond my grasp. ⁷⁵ 

7:24 Whatever has happened is beyond human ⁷⁶  understanding; ⁷⁷ 

it is far deeper than anyone can fathom. ⁷⁸ 

7:25 I tried ⁷⁹  to understand, examine, and comprehend ⁸⁰ 

the role of ⁸¹  wisdom in the scheme of things, ⁸² 

and to understand the stupidity of wickedness ⁸³  and the insanity of folly. ⁸⁴ 

7:26 I discovered this: ⁸⁵ 

More bitter than death is the kind of ⁸⁶  woman ⁸⁷  who is like a hunter’s snare; ⁸⁸ 

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.

7:27 The Teacher says:

I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.

7:28 What I have continually sought, I have not found;

I have found only ⁸⁹  one upright ⁹⁰  man among a thousand,

but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

7:29 This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright,

but they have sought many evil schemes.

8:1 Who is ⁹¹  a ⁹²  wise person? Who knows the solution ⁹³  to a problem? ⁹⁴ 

A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, ⁹⁵  and softens ⁹⁶  his harsh countenance. ⁹⁷ 

8:2 Obey the king’s command, ⁹⁸ 

because you took ⁹⁹  an oath before God ¹⁰⁰  to be loyal to him. ¹⁰¹ 

8:3 Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, ¹⁰² 

for he can do whatever he pleases.

8:4 Surely the king’s authority ¹⁰³  is absolute; ¹⁰⁴ 

no one can say ¹⁰⁵  to him, “What are you doing?”

8:5 Whoever obeys his ¹⁰⁶  command will not experience harm,

and a wise person ¹⁰⁷  knows the proper time ¹⁰⁸  and procedure.

8:6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,

for the oppression ¹⁰⁹  of the king ¹¹⁰  is severe upon his victim. ¹¹¹ 

8:7 Surely no one knows the future, ¹¹² 

and no one can tell another person what will happen. ¹¹³ 

8:8 Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, ¹¹⁴ 

so no one has power over the day of his ¹¹⁵  death.

Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, ¹¹⁶ 

so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked. ¹¹⁷ 

8:9 While applying ¹¹⁸  my mind ¹¹⁹  to everything ¹²⁰  that happens in this world, ¹²¹  I have seen all this:

Sometimes one person ¹²²  dominates ¹²³  other people ¹²⁴  to their harm. ¹²⁵ 

8:10 Not only that, ¹²⁶  but I have seen the wicked approaching ¹²⁷  and entering the temple, ¹²⁸ 

and as they left the holy temple, ¹²⁹  they

boasted ¹³⁰  in the city that they had done so.

This also is an enigma. ¹³¹ 

8:11 When ¹³²  a sentence ¹³³  is not executed ¹³⁴  at once against a crime, ¹³⁵ 

the human heart ¹³⁶  is encouraged to do evil. ¹³⁷ 

8:12 Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes ¹³⁸  and still live a long time, ¹³⁹ 

yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people ¹⁴⁰  – for they stand in fear ¹⁴¹  before him.

8:13 But it will not go well with the wicked,

nor will they ¹⁴²  prolong their ¹⁴³  days like a shadow, ¹⁴⁴ 

because they ¹⁴⁵  do not stand in fear ¹⁴⁶  before God.

8:14 Here is ¹⁴⁷  another ¹⁴⁸  enigma ¹⁴⁹  that occurs on earth:

Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, ¹⁵⁰ 

and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. ¹⁵¹ 

I said, “This also is an enigma.”

8:15 So I recommend the enjoyment of life, ¹⁵² 

for there is nothing better on earth ¹⁵³  for a person to do ¹⁵⁴  except ¹⁵⁵  to eat, drink, and enjoy ¹⁵⁶  life. ¹⁵⁷ 

So ¹⁵⁸  joy ¹⁵⁹  will accompany him in his toil

during the days of his life which God gives him on earth. ¹⁶⁰ 

8:16 When I tried ¹⁶¹  to gain ¹⁶²  wisdom

and to observe the activity ¹⁶³  on earth –

even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night ¹⁶⁴  –

8:17 then I discerned all that God has done: ¹⁶⁵ 

No one really comprehends what happens ¹⁶⁶  on earth. ¹⁶⁷ 

Despite all human ¹⁶⁸  efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp ¹⁶⁹  it. ¹⁷⁰ 

Even if ¹⁷¹  a wise person claimed ¹⁷²  that he understood,

he would not really comprehend ¹⁷³  it. ¹⁷⁴ 

9:1 So I reflected on all this, ¹⁷⁵  attempting to clear ¹⁷⁶  it all up.

I concluded that ¹⁷⁷  the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God;

whether a person will be loved or hated ¹⁷⁸  –

no one knows what lies ahead. ¹⁷⁹ 

9:2 Everyone shares the same fate ¹⁸⁰  –

the righteous and the wicked,

the good and the bad, ¹⁸¹ 

the ceremonially clean and unclean,

those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; ¹⁸² 

what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.

9:3 This is the unfortunate fact ¹⁸³  about everything that happens on earth: ¹⁸⁴ 

the same fate awaits ¹⁸⁵  everyone.

In addition to this, the hearts of all people ¹⁸⁶  are full of evil,

and there is folly in their hearts during their lives – then they die. ¹⁸⁷ 

9:4 But whoever is among ¹⁸⁸  the living ¹⁸⁹  has hope;

a live dog is better than a dead lion.

9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything;

they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears. ¹⁹⁰ 

9:6 What they loved, ¹⁹¹  as well as what they hated ¹⁹²  and envied, ¹⁹³  perished long ago,

and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth. ¹⁹⁴ 

9:7 Go, eat your food ¹⁹⁵  with joy,

and drink your wine with a happy heart,

because God has already approved your works.

9:8 Let your clothes always be white,

and do not spare precious ointment on your head.

9:9 Enjoy ¹⁹⁶  life with your beloved wife ¹⁹⁷  during all the days of your fleeting ¹⁹⁸  life

that God ¹⁹⁹  has given you on earth ²⁰⁰  during all your fleeting days; ²⁰¹ 

for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work ²⁰²  on earth. ²⁰³ 

9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, ²⁰⁴ 

do it with all your might,

because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, ²⁰⁵ 

the place where you will eventually go. ²⁰⁶ 

9:11 Again, ²⁰⁷  I observed this on the earth: ²⁰⁸ 

the race is not always ²⁰⁹  won by the swiftest,

the battle is not always won by the strongest;

prosperity ²¹⁰  does not always belong to those who are the wisest,

wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,

nor does success ²¹¹  always come to those with the most knowledge –

for time and chance may overcome ²¹²  them all.

9:12 Surely, no one ²¹³  knows his appointed time! ²¹⁴ 

Like fish that are caught in a deadly ²¹⁵  net, and like birds that are caught in a snare –

just like them, all people ²¹⁶  are ensnared ²¹⁷  at an unfortunate ²¹⁸  time that falls upon them suddenly.

9:13 This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, ²¹⁹ 

and it is a great burden ²²⁰  to me:

9:14 There was once ²²¹  a small city with a few men in it,

and a mighty king attacked it, besieging ²²²  it and building strong ²²³  siege works against it.

9:15 However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, ²²⁴ 

and he could have delivered ²²⁵  the city by his wisdom,

but no one listened ²²⁶  to that poor man.

9:16 So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, ²²⁷ 

but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens ²²⁸  to his advice. ²²⁹ 

9:17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet,

more than the shouting of a ruler is heard ²³⁰  among fools.

9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,

but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

10:1 One dead fly ²³¹  makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, ²³² 

so a little folly can outweigh ²³³  much wisdom. ²³⁴ 

10:2 A wise person’s good sense protects him, ²³⁵ 

but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ²³⁶ 

10:3 Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, ²³⁷ 

and shows ²³⁸  everyone what a fool he is. ²³⁹ 

10:4 If the anger ²⁴⁰  of the ruler flares up ²⁴¹  against you, do not resign ²⁴²  from your position, ²⁴³ 

for a calm ²⁴⁴  response ²⁴⁵  can undo ²⁴⁶  great offenses.

10:5 I have seen another ²⁴⁷  misfortune ²⁴⁸  on the earth: ²⁴⁹ 

It is an error a ruler makes. ²⁵⁰ 

10:6 Fools ²⁵¹  are placed in many positions of authority, ²⁵² 

while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

10:7 I have seen slaves ²⁵³  on horseback

and princes walking on foot ²⁵⁴  like slaves.

10:8 One who digs a pit may ²⁵⁵  fall into it,

and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. ²⁵⁶ 

10:9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them;

one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10:10 If an iron axhead ²⁵⁷  is blunt and a workman ²⁵⁸  does not sharpen ²⁵⁹  its edge, ²⁶⁰ 

he must exert a great deal of effort; ²⁶¹ 

so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

10:11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, ²⁶² 

the snake charmer ²⁶³  is in trouble. ²⁶⁴ 

10:12 The words of a wise person ²⁶⁵  win him ²⁶⁶  favor, ²⁶⁷ 

but the words ²⁶⁸  of a fool are self-destructive. ²⁶⁹ 

10:13 At the beginning his words ²⁷⁰  are foolish

and at the end ²⁷¹  his talk ²⁷²  is wicked madness, ²⁷³ 

10:14 yet a fool keeps on babbling. ²⁷⁴ 

No one knows what will happen;

who can tell him what will happen in the future? ²⁷⁵ 

10:15 The toil of a stupid fool ²⁷⁶  wears him out, ²⁷⁷ 

because he does not even know the way to the city. ²⁷⁸ 

10:16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, ²⁷⁹ 

and your princes feast in the morning!

10:17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, ²⁸⁰ 

and your princes feast at the proper time ²⁸¹  – with self-control and not in drunkenness. ²⁸² 

10:18 Because of laziness the roof ²⁸³  caves in,

and because of idle hands ²⁸⁴  the house leaks.

10:19 Feasts ²⁸⁵  are made ²⁸⁶  for laughter,

and wine makes life merry, ²⁸⁷ 

but money is the answer ²⁸⁸  for everything.

10:20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts,

and do not curse the rich ²⁸⁹  while in your bedroom; ²⁹⁰ 

for a bird ²⁹¹  might report what you are thinking, ²⁹² 

or some winged creature ²⁹³  might repeat your ²⁹⁴  words. ²⁹⁵ 

11:1 Send ²⁹⁶  your grain ²⁹⁷  overseas, ²⁹⁸ 

for after many days you will get a return. ²⁹⁹ 

11:2 Divide your merchandise ³⁰⁰  among seven or even eight ³⁰¹  investments, ³⁰² 

for you do not know ³⁰³  what calamity ³⁰⁴  may happen on earth.

11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth,

and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.

11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow,

and he who observes the clouds will not reap. ³⁰⁵ 

11:5 Just as you do not know the path ³⁰⁶  of the wind,

or how the bones form ³⁰⁷  in the womb of a pregnant woman, ³⁰⁸ 

so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

11:6 Sow your seed in the morning,

and do not stop working ³⁰⁹  until the evening; ³¹⁰ 

for you do not know which activity ³¹¹  will succeed ³¹²  –

whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally. ³¹³ 

11:7 Light ³¹⁴  is sweet, ³¹⁵ 

and it is pleasant for a person ³¹⁶  to see the sun. ³¹⁷ 

11:8 So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,

but let him remember that the days of darkness ³¹⁸  will be many – all that is about to come is obscure. ³¹⁹ 

11:9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, ³²⁰ 

and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.

Follow the impulses ³²¹  of your heart and the desires ³²²  of your eyes,

but know that God will judge your motives and actions. ³²³ 

11:10 Banish ³²⁴  emotional stress ³²⁵  from your mind. ³²⁶ 

and put away pain ³²⁷  from your body; ³²⁸ 

for youth ³²⁹  and the prime of life ³³⁰  are fleeting. ³³¹