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The Value of Wisdom
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Wisdom for Life
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
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.
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies —
so the living should take this to heart.
After all, everyone dies —
so the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
for sadness has a refining influence on us.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
A wise person thinks a lot about death,
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.
than to be praised by a fool.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Extortion turns wise people into fools,
and bribes corrupt the heart.
and bribes corrupt the heart.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
Patience is better than pride.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
for anger labels you a fool.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
This is not wise.
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
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.
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.
but only wisdom can save your life.
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
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.
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
Limits of Human Wisdom
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.
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.
The Limits of Human Wisdom
I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
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.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Don’t eavesdrop on others — you may hear your servant curse you.
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
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.
That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
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:
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.
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.
Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
“This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
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.
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!