Ecclesiastes 7
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1A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. 1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
2It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. 2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. 3Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools. 5It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless. 6Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
7Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart. 7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride. 8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
9Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these days?" for it is not wise to ask that. 10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day. 11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
12For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 12Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? 13Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds. 14When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
15During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds. 15In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
16So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed. 16Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself?
17Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time. 17Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time?
18It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings. 18It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
19Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city. 19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
20For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins. 20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
21Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you. 21Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--
22For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times. 22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this"--but it was beyond my grasp. 23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"-- but this was beyond me.
24Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom. 24Whatever exists is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?
25I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly. 25So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
26I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her. 26I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
27The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item. 27"Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things--
28What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them. 28while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.
29This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes. 29This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes."
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Ecclesiastes 6
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