Read the Bible

¹ A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.² [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.³ Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.⁴ The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.⁵ [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.⁶ For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.

⁷ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.⁸ Better [is] the end of a thing than its beginning: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.⁹ Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.¹⁰ Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

¹¹ Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.¹² For wisdom [is] a defense, [and] money [is] a defense: but the excellence of knowledge [is], [that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.¹³ Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.¹⁵ All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness.¹⁶ Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?¹⁷ Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?¹⁸ [It is] good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.¹⁹ Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] who are in the city.²⁰ For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.²¹ Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:²² For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

²³ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.²⁴ That which is far off, and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?²⁵ I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:²⁶ And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoever pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.²⁷ Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:²⁸ Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.²⁹ Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.