There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it 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.

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?

Keep thy foot when thou go to the house of God, for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they know not that they do evil.

Better is it that thou should not vow, than that thou should vow and not pay.

If a man begets a hundred sons, and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial, I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Since there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

A [good] name is better than precious oil, and the day of death, than the day of birth.

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.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.

It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Say thou not, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou do not inquire wisely concerning this.

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are chains. He who pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Then I commended joy, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be cheerful. For that shall abide with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Because to him who is joined with all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

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