3.0 KiB
Wisdom for Life
Chapter 7
- A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
- Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies--
so the living should take this to heart.
- Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
- A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
- Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.
- A fool's laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
- Extortion turns wise people into fools,
and bribes corrupt the heart.
- Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
- Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
- Don't long for "the good old days."
This is not wise.
- Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
- Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.
- Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
- Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
The Limits of Human Wisdom
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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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So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
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On the other hand, don't be too wicked either. Don't be a fool! Why die before your time?
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Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
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One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
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Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
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Don't eavesdrop on others--you may hear your servant curse you.
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For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
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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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Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
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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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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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"This is my conclusion," says the Teacher. "I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
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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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But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path."