American Standard Version (ASV) With Strong Codes

1. A good name[H8034] is better[H2896] than precious[H2896] oil[H8081]; and the day[H3117] of death[H4194], than the day[H3117] of one[H3205]'s birth.

2. It is better[H2896] to go[H3212] to the house[H1004] of mourning[H60] than to go[H3212] to the house[H1004] of feasting[H4960]: for[H834] that is the end[H5490] of all men[H120]; and the living[H2416] will lay[H5414] it to his heart[H3820].

3. Sorrow[H3708] is better[H2896] than laughter[H7814]; for by the sadness[H7455] of the countenance[H6440] the heart[H3820] is made glad[H3190].

4. The heart[H3820] of the wise[H2450] is in the house[H1004] of mourning[H60]; but the heart[H3820] of fools[H3684] is in the house[H1004] of mirth[H8057].

5. It is better[H2896] to hear[H8085] the rebuke[H1606] of the wise[H2450], than for a man[H376] to hear[H8085] the song[H7892] of fools[H3684].

6. For as the crackling[H6963] of thorns[H5518] under a pot[H5518], so is the laughter[H7814] of the fool[H3684]: this also is vanity[H1892].

7. Surely extortion[H6233] maketh the wise man[H2450] foolish[H1984]; and a bribe[H4979] destroyeth[H6] the understanding[H3820].

8. Better[H2896] is the end[H319] of a thing[H1697] than the beginning[H7225] thereof[H750]; and the patient in spirit[H7307] is better[H2896] than the proud[H1362] in spirit[H7307].

9. Be not hasty[H926] in thy spirit[H7307] to be angry[H3707]; for anger[H3708] resteth[H5117] in the bosom[H2436] of fools[H3684].

10. Say[H559] not thou[H7223], What is the cause that the former days[H3117] were better[H2896] than these[H7592]? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this[H2451].

11. Wisdom[H2451] is as good[H2896] as an inheritance[H5159]; yea[H3148], more excellent is it for them that see[H7200] the sun[H8121].

12. For wisdom[H2451] is a defence[H6738], even as money[H3701] is a defence[H6738]; but the excellency[H3504] of knowledge[H1847] is[H2451], that wisdom preserveth the life[H2421] of him that hath it[H1167].

13. Consider[H7200] the work[H4639] of God[H430]: for who can[H3201] make that straight[H8626], which he hath made crooked[H5791]?

14. In the day[H3117] of prosperity[H2896] be joyful[H2896], and in the day[H3117] of adversity[H7451] consider[H7200]; yea[H430], God hath made[H6213] the one side by side[H5980] with the other[H1700], to the end that man[H120] should not find[H4672] out anything[H3972] that shall be after him[H310].

15. All this have I seen[H7200] in my days[H3117] of vanity[H1892]: there is[H3426] a righteous[H6662] man that perisheth[H6] in his righteousness[H6664], and there is a wicked[H7563] man that prolongeth[H748] his life in his evil-doing[H7451].

16. Be not righteous[H6662] overmuch[H7235]; neither make thyself[H3148] overwise[H2449]: why shouldest thou destroy thyself[H8074]?

17. Be not overmuch[H7235] wicked[H7561], neither be thou foolish[H5530]: why shouldest thou die[H4191] before thy time[H6256]?

18. It is good[H2896] that thou shouldest take hold[H270] of this[H2088]; yea[H3240], also from that withdraw not thy hand[H3027]: for he that feareth[H3373] God[H430] shall come forth from them all[H3318].

19. Wisdom[H2451] is a strength[H5810] to the wise[H2450] man more than ten[H6235] rulers[H7989] that are in a city[H5892].

20. Surely there is not a righteous[H6662] man[H120] upon earth[H776], that doeth[H6213] good[H2896], and sinneth not[H2398].

21. Also take[H5414] not heed[H3820] unto all words[H1697] that are spoken[H1696], lest thou hear[H8085] thy servant[H5650] curse thee[H7043];

22. for oftentimes[H6471] also thine own heart[H3820] knoweth[H3045] that thou thyself likewise hast cursed[H7043] others[H312].

23. All this[H2090] have I proved[H5254] in wisdom[H2451]: I said[H559], I will be wise[H2449]; but it was far from me[H7350].

24. That which is[H7350], is far off and exceeding deep[H6013]; who can find it out[H4672]?

25. I turned[H5437] about[H3820], and my heart was set to know[H3045] and to search[H8446] out[H1245], and to seek wisdom[H2451] and the reason[H2808] of things[H3045], and to know that wickedness[H7562] is folly[H3689], and that foolishness[H5531] is madness[H1947].

26. And I find[H4672] more bitter[H4751] than death[H4194] the woman[H802] whose heart[H3820] is snares[H4685] and nets[H2764], and whose hands[H3027] are bands[H612]: whoso pleaseth[H2896] God[H430] shall escape[H4422] from her[H2398]; but the sinner shall be taken by her[H3920].

27. Behold[H7200], this have I found[H4672], saith[H559] the Preacher[H6953], laying one[H259] thing to another[H259], to find out[H4672] the account[H2808];

28. which my soul[H5315] still seeketh[H1245], but I have not found[H4672]: one[H259] man[H120] among a thousand[H505] have I found[H4672]; but a woman[H802] among all those have I not found[H4672].

29. Behold[H7200], this only[H905] have I found[H4672]: that God[H430] made[H6213] man[H120] upright[H3477]; but they have sought out[H1245] many[H120] inventions[H2810].