New International Version NIV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
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(7-2) A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one’s 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.
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(7-3) It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.
3 Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.
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(7-4) Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
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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(7-5) The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
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(7-6) It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.
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(7-7) For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
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(7-8) Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
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(7-9) Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
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(7-10) Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
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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(7-11) Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
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(7-12) Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun.
12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
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(7-13) For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth them.
13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
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(7-14) Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath despised.
14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
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(7-15) In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint.
15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
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(7-16) These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness.
16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
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(7-17) Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest thou become stupid.
17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
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(7-18) Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before thy time.
18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
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(7-19) It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing.
19 Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
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(7-20) Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city.
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
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(7-21) For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—
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(7-22) But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
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(7-23) For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others.
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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(7-24) I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: and it departed farther from me,
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound— who can discover it?
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(7-25) Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it out?
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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(7-26) I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
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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(7-27) And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the hunter’s snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
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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(7-28) Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after another, that I might find out the account,
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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(7-29) Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found.
29 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
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(7-30) Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise man? and who hath known the resolution of the word?
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.