1 What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
2 A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth. 3 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning to his heart. 4 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better. 5 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
6 It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man than for a man to hear the song of fools. 7 As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.
8 For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart. 9 The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded. 10 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.