Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.

There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live;

So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?

But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.

Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;

A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—

Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil.

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he is not respected and is not given a proper burial [he is not laid to rest in the sepulcher of his fathers], then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he,

What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires. This too is futility and chasing after the wind.

A good name is better than precious perfume,
And the day of one’s death better than the day of one’s birth.

It is better to go to the house of mourning
Than to go to the house of feasting,
For that [day of death] is the end of every man,
And the living will take it to heart and solemnly ponder its meaning.

Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom].

It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise man and pursue wisdom
Than for one to listen to the song of fools and pursue stupidity.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (pride).

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

And I discovered that [of all irrational sins none has been so destructive in beguiling one away from God as immoral women for] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is [composed of] snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken captive by her [evil].

Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

[There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.

But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

The words of wise men heard in quietness are better than the shouting of one who rules among fools.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.