King James Bible

International Standard Version

1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

1A good name exceeds the value of fine perfume, and the day of someone's death exceeds the value of the day of his birth.

2It 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.

2It's better to attend a funeral than to attend a banquet, for everyone dies eventually, and the living will take this to heart.

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

3Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.

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

4For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning, but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.

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

5It is better to listen to a wise person's rebuke than to listen to the praise of fools.

6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

6For as thorns burn to heat a pot, so also is the laughter of the fool— even this is pointless.

7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

7Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

8The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.

9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

9Never be in a hurry to become internally angry, since anger settles down in the lap of fools.

10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

10Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom.

11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

11Wise use of possessions is good; it brings benefit to the living.

12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

12Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it's better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

13Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent?

14In 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.

14When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won't seek anything outside of his best.

15All 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.

15I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

16Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive?

17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

17Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?

18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

18It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go, because whoever fears God will escape all of these extremes.

19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

19Wisdom given as strength to a wise person is better than having ten powerful men in the city.

20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

20For there is not a single righteous man on earth who practices good and does not sin.

21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

21Don't listen to everything that is spoken— you may hear your servant cursing you,

22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

22since you also know how often you have cursed others.

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

23I used my wisdom to test all of this. I said, "I want to be wise," but it was beyond me.

24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

24Whatever it is, it's far off and most profound. Who can attain it?

25I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

25I committed myself to understand, to learn, to search for wisdom and explanations, and to understand both the evil that is foolishness and the stupidity that is delusion.

26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

26I discovered for myself a bitterness that surpasses that of death: the woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, whose hands are chains of bondage. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the transgressor will be trapped by her.

27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

27"Look at this," says the Teacher. "Linking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:

28Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

28Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.

29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

29I have discovered only this: God made human beings for righteousness, but they seek many alternatives."

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.