7 A good (precious) name is better than precious (good) ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
2 It 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.
3 Sorrow (vexation of unmerited treatment of grief) is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance (face or presence) the heart is made better (causative – make well, used aright).
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth (glee or pleasure).
5 It is better to hear the rebuke (sharp criticism) of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression (act of oppression or the act of injury or fraud, distress) maketh a wise man mad; and a gift (a bribe) destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit (state of mind) is better than the proud in spirit (state of mind).
9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In 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.
15 All 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.
16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise (beyond what is necessary): why shouldest thou destroy thyself (make thyself lonely) ?
