Chapter 7

  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.  

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  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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  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  

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  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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  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.  

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  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.  

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  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.  

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  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.  

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  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  

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  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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  Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.  

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  For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellence of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.  

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  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?  

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  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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  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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  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldst thou destroy thyself?  

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  Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?  

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  It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall escape from them all.  

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  Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.  

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  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.  

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  Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:  

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  For often also thy own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.  

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  All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.  

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  That which is far off, and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?  

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  I applied my 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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  And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.  

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  Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:  

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  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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  Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.  

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