47 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
47 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 7
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1 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
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And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
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2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
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After all, everyone dies—
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so the living should take this to heart.
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3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
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for sadness has a refining influence on us.
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4 A wise person thinks a lot about death,
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while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
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5 Better to be criticized by a wise person
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than to be praised by a fool.
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6 A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
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like thorns crackling in a fire.
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This also is meaningless.
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7 Extortion turns wise people into fools,
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and bribes corrupt the heart.
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8 Finishing is better than starting.
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Patience is better than pride.
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9 Control your temper,
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for anger labels you a fool.
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10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”
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This is not wise.
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11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.
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Both are a benefit as you go through life.
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12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
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but only wisdom can save your life.
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13 Accept the way God does things,
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for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
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14 Enjoy prosperity while you can,
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but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
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Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
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15 I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.
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16 So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
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17 On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
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18 Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
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19 One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
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20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
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21 Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you.
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22 For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
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23 I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work.
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24 Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
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25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.
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26 I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare.
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27 “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
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28 Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!
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29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.” |