1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
The Geneva Bible: A Cornerstone of English Protestantism A Testament to Reform The 1599 Geneva Bible... Read More
7 Teacher: A good name is worth more than the finest perfume,
and the day you die is better than the day you were born.
2 In the same way, it is better to go to a funeral
than a celebration.
Why? because death is the end of life’s journey,
and the living should always take that to heart.
3 Sorrow beats foolish laughter;
embracing sadness somehow gladdens our hearts.
4 A wise heart is well acquainted with grief,
but a foolish heart seeks only pleasure’s company.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise
than a song written by fools,
6 For the laughter of fools is like
the hiss and crackle of burning thorns beneath a pot.
This, too, is fleeting.
7 Oppression can turn the wise into fools,
and a bribe can damage the noblest heart.
8 Having the last word is better than having the first,
and patience will benefit you more than pride.
9 Do not be quick to anger,
for anger sits comfortably in the lap of fools.
10 Do not ask, “Where have all the good times gone?”
Wisdom knows better than to ask such a thing.
11 It is good to have wisdom along with an inheritance;
they give a clear advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For together wisdom and money are alike in this:
both offer protection from life’s misfortunes,
But the real advantage of knowledge is this:
wisdom alone preserves the lives of those who have it.
13 Think for a moment about the work of God.
Can anyone make straight what God has made crooked?
Often wisdom invites us to ponder great questions. The question, “Can anyone make straight what God has made crooked?” echoes the words of 1:15—“Something crooked cannot be made straight.” Only God can determine what is and what is not. God makes our paths crooked or straight. And we often do not understand why one person’s way is straight and another’s is crooked. The message of the teacher is simple: reverence God regardless of the path you have been given to walk.
14 Teacher: When times are good,
enjoy them and be happy.
When times are bad,
think about this:
God makes both good and bad times,
so that no one really knows what is coming next.
15 In the fleeting time I have lived on this earth, I have seen just about everything: the good dying in their goodness and the wicked living to a ripe old age. 16 So my advice? Do not act overly righteous, and do not think yourself wiser than others. Why go and ruin yourself? 17 But do not be too wicked or foolish either. Why die before it’s your time? 18 Grasp both sides of things and keep the two in balance; for anyone who fears God won’t give in to the extremes.[a]
After each act of creation in Genesis 1, “God saw that His new creation was beautiful and good.” When creation is nearly complete, God not only declares it “good” but is described as “savoring its beauty and appreciating its goodness” (Genesis 1:31). In the creation account recorded in Genesis 2, God places the tree of the knowledge of “good and evil” in the garden and commands the first couple not to eat of the tree. But that is precisely what they do; and in the act of eating, they gain knowledge of good and knowledge of what the absence of good brings. Adam and Eve’s children live with this dichotomy. For example, when Cain is distressed over God’s choice of Abel’s offering over his, God says to Cain, “Don’t you know that as long as you do what is right, then I accept you? But if you do not do what is right, watch out, because sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce on you!” (Genesis 4:7). The temptation to scheme—that is, to do the “evil” rather than the “good”—begins with the first human pair; the teacher of Ecclesiastes reminds his readers that the same temptation still exists.
19 Wisdom is more powerful to a wise person than 10 rulers in a city.
20 There is not a righteous person on earth who always does good and never sins.
21 Don’t take to heart all that people say;
eventually you may hear your servant curse you.
22 And face it, your heart has overheard how often you’ve cursed others.
23 I have tested all of these sayings against wisdom. I promised myself, “I will become wise,” but wisdom kept its distance. 24 True wisdom remains elusive; its profound mysteries are remote. Who can discover it?
25 So I turned and dedicated my heart to knowing more, to digging deeper, to searching harder for wisdom and the reasons things are as they are. I applied myself to understanding the connection between wickedness and folly, between folly and madness. 26 Along this journey, I discovered something more bitter than death—a seductive woman. Her heart is a trap and net. Her hands shackle your wrists. Those who seek to please God will escape her clutches, but sinners will be caught in her trap. 27 Look at this! After investigating the matter thoroughly to find out why things are as they are, 28 I realize that although I kept on searching, I have not found what I am looking for. Only one man in a thousand have I found, but I could not find a single woman among all of these who knows this. 29 Here is what I have figured out: God made humanity for good, but we humans go out and scheme our way into trouble.
7 Better [is] a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth. 2 Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth [it] unto his heart. 3 Better [is] sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the...
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7 A good name is better than precious ointments (A good name, or a good reputation, is better than expensive perfume); and the day of death is better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of a feast; for in that house the end of all men is warned (of...
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7 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth. 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 should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by ...
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Lessons from Mourning7 Better is a good reputation than precious oiland the day of death than the day of birth.2 Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,since that is the end of all mankind—and the living should take it to heart.3 Grief is better than laughter, for th...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laught...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laught...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laugh...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laugh...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laugh...
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A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.(A)2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.(B)3 Sorrow is better than...
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Wisdom for Life7 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born.2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness ha...
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Wisdom Is Worth a Lot7 A good name is better than oil of much worth. And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of sorrow than to go to a house of much eating. For this is the end of all men, and the living takes it to heart. 3 To have sorrow ...
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The Value of Practical Wisdom7 A (A)good name is better than precious ointment,And the day of death than the day of one’s (B)birth;2 Better to go to the house of mourningThan to go to the house of feasting,For that is the end of all men;And the living will take it to (C)heart.3 [a]Sorrow is better t...
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Wisdom7 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.3 Frustration is better than laughter, because a...
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Wisdom7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(A) and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,for death(C) is the destiny(D) of everyone; the living should take this to heart.3 Frustration is better than laughte...
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Good Advice About How to Live7 A good name is better than fine perfume. People can learn more from mourning when someone dies than from being happy when someone is born.2 So it’s better to go where people are mourning than to go where people are having a good time.Everyone will die someday. Those wh...
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Some Benefits of Serious Thinking7 It is better to have respect than good perfume.The day of death is better than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to a funeral than to a party.We all must die, and everyone living should think about this.3 Sorrow is better than laughter, and sadness has a good i...
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Search for Human EquilibriumHow To Discover?Chapter 7Laughter and Anguish[a]1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.[b]2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting.For that is the end of every man; let the living take ...
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