1. A good name is better than precious ointment,and the day of death than the day of birth.
2. It is better to go to a house of mourningthan to go to a house of feasting,for this is the end of all mankind;and the living will lay it to heart.
3. Grief is better than laughter,for with a downcast face the heart considers the good.
4. The heart of those who are wise is in the house of mourning,but the heart of those who are foolish in the house of feasting.
5. It is better to hear the rebuke from a wise manthan a man listen to the song of fools.
6. For like the crackling sound of thorns under a pot,so is the mocking laughter of fools.And this is also vanity.
7. For oppression brings confusion to the wise man,and a bribe destroys a man’s heart.
8. The end of a matter is better than the beginning of it,and the patient in spirit than the haughty in spirit.
9. Do not be quick in your spirit to be angry,for irritation settles in the bosom of fools.
10. Do not say, “Why were the earlier days better than these days?”For it is not from wisdom that you inquire this.
11. Wisdom is good with an inheritance,and an advantage to those who see the sun.
12. For the protection of wisdomis like the protection of money,and the advantage of knowledge isthat wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13. Consider the work of God: Who is able to make straightwhat He has made crooked?
14. In the day of prosperity be joyful,but in the day of distress consider:God has made the oneas well as the other.For this reason man will not be able to understandanything that comes after him.
15. I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is the righteous man who dies in his righteousness,and there is the wicked man who extends his life of evil.
16. Do not be excessively righteous,and do not be extremely wise;why should you destroy yourself?