106 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
106 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
Wisdom for Life
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# 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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The Limits of Human Wisdom
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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."
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