2. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
3. Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
5. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than 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 maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
10. Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11. Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
12. For wisdom is a defence as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
13. Consider the work of God for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
14. In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing of what shall be after him.
15. All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his days by his wickedness.
16. Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?