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He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.

Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.

He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

…for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.

When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

…but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.

I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

…for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it up.

It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.

He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.

A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.

As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

…and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all clothed in scarlet.

The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.

Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:

Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.

It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me: