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New International Version (NIV) |
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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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1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of 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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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 every man; the living should take this to 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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3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
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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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4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
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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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5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to 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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6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
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7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad ; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
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7 Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts 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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8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
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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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9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap 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 enquire wisely concerning this.
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10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
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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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11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who 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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12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.
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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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13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has 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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14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
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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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15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long 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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16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself ?
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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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17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your 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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18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes].
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19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
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19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a 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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20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
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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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21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you--
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22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
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22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have 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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23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"-- but this was beyond me.
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24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out ?
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24 Whatever wisdom may be, it is far off and most profound-- who can discover it?
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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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25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
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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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26 I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
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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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27 "Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things--
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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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28 while I was still searching but not finding-- I found one [upright] man among a thousand, but not one [upright] woman among them all.
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29 Lo , this only have I found , that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
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29 This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes."
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| The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
