New King James Version

King James Bible

1A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;

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

2Better 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 take it to heart.

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.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

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

4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

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

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

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

6For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

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

7Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.

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

8The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

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

9Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

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

10Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

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

11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.

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

12For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

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.

13Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?

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

14In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

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.

15I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

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.

16Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

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

17Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?

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

18It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.

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.

19Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.

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

20For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

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

21Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.

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

22For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.

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

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

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

24As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?

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

25I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.

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:

26And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her.

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.

27“Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,

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

28Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these I have not found.

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.

29Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.