ACV(i)
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider. Yea, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
15 All this I have seen in my days of vanity. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing.
16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise. Why should thou destroy thyself?
17 Do not much wrong, nor be thou a fool. Why should thou die before thy time?
18 It is good that thou should take hold of this, yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand. For he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth that does good, and sins not.
21 Also do not take heed to all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
22 For many times also thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise have cursed others.
23 All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
25 I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.
26 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.
27 Behold, I have found this, says the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account,
28 which my soul still seeks, but I have not found: among a thousand I have found one man, but among all those I have not found a woman.
29 Behold, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many contrivances.