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 defence, and money is a defence: 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. |