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Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7
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1 |
A good name is
better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of
one's birth.
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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.
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3 |
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the
countenance the heart is made better.
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4 |
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart
of fools is in the house of mirth.
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5 |
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to
hear the song of fools.
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6 |
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of
the fool: this also is vanity.
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7 |
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the
heart.
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8 |
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the
patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
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9 |
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the
bosom of fools.
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10 |
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better
than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
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11 |
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to
them that see the sun.
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12 |
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the
excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have
it.
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13 |
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which
he hath made crooked?
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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.
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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.
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16 |
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why
shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
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17 |
Be not over much wicked,
neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
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18 |
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this
withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of
them all.
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19 |
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are
in the city.
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20 |
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.
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21 |
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear
thy servant curse thee:
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22 |
For oftentimes also thine own heart
knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
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23 |
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it
was far from me.
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24 |
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
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25 |
I applied mine 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:
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26 |
And I find more bitter than
death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as
bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall
be taken by her.
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27 |
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by
one, to find out the account:
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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.
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29 |
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but
they have sought out many inventions.
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