Qoh.7

[1] A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
[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 men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
[3] Sorrow 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 is in the house of mirth.
[5] It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man 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 the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
[9] Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
[10] Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
[11] Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
[12] For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
[13] Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
[14] In 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.
[15] All 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.
[16] Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
[17] Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
[18] It 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.
[19] Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
[20] For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
[21] Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
[22] For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
[23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
[24] That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
[25] I 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:
[26] And 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] Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
[28] Which 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.
[29] Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Qoh.8

[1] Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
[2] I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
[3] Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
[4] Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
[5] Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
[6] Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
[7] For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
[8] There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
[9] All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
[10] And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
[11] Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
[12] Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
[13] But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
[14] There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again,