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Ecclesiastes 7
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| 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than
the day of one's birth. |
"A good name is better than precious ointment."
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| 7:2
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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| 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the
heart is made better. |
(7:3-4)
Is it good to be happy?
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| 7:4
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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| 7:5
It is better to hear the
rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. |
"It is better to hear the rebuke of the
wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."
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| 7:6
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the
fool: this also is vanity. |
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| 7:7
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. |
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| 7:8
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is
better than the proud in spirit. |
"The patient in spirit is better than the
proud in spirit."
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| 7:9
Be not hasty in thy
spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. |
"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:
for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."
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| 7:10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than
these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. |
Don't waste time thinking about "the good old days."
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| 7:11
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that
see the sun. |
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| 7:12
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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| 7:13
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath
made crooked? |
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| 7:14
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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| 7:15
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. |
"There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness."
Has there ever been a just person?
Does God destroy both the righteous
and the wicked?
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| 7:16
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest
thou destroy thyself ? |
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| 7:17
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die
before thy time? |
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| 7:18
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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| 7:19
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the
city. |
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| 7:20
For there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. |
"For there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
Does anyone ever do anything good?
Has there ever been a just person?
Do Christians sin?
Don't pay attention to everything people say.
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| 7:21
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy
servant curse thee:
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| 7:22
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise
hast cursed others.
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| 7:23
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far
from me. |
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| 7:24
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? |
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| 7:25
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: |
Always strive "to know, and to search;
and to seek out wisdom, and the reasonableness of things."
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| 7:26
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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| 7:27
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to
find out the account: |
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| 7:28
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. |
"But a woman among all those have I not found."
The Preacher could find a few good men (maybe one in a thousand or so), but not a single good woman.
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| 7:29
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have
sought out many inventions.
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