7:1 A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
7:2 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 man; and the living will lay it to his heart.
7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the 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.
7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7:7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
7:9 Don't be in a hurry in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
7:10 Don't say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.
7:11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yes, more excellent is it for those who see the sun.
7:12 For wisdom is a defense, even as silver is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?
7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that will be] after him.
7:15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs [his life] in his evildoing.
7:16 Don't be overly righteous; neither make yourself overly wise: why should you destroy yourself?
7:17 Don't be overly wicked, neither be foolish: why should you die before your time?
7:18 It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand: for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
7:19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
7:20 Surely there is not [a] righteous man on earth, who does good, and does not sin.
7:21 Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your slave curse you;
7:22 for oftentimes also your own heart knows that you yourself likewise have cursed others.
7:23 All this I have proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
7:24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep; who can find it out?
7:25 I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bindings: whoever pleases God will escape from her; but the sinner will be taken by her.
7:27 Look, this I have found, says the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;
7:28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: of man one among a thousand I have found; but a woman among all those I have not found.
7:29 Look, this only I have found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.