Ecclesiastes 7
Wisdom and Folly
Compared |
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
inquire 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 defense, and money is a defense: 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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