Focus

Tonight is the last Presidential debate.  Foreign policy is the topic and it should be interesting (and probably entertaining as well).  I can say without one doubt that there will be a great deal of "beating around the bush" and most of the rhetoric will involve circular reasoning.  Because there are only a couple of weeks left before the election, I expect both campaigns will become increasing nasty and we may even see one of those famous "October surprises.  Frankly, I don't expect much (if anything) to be accomplished tonight because both candidates will dance around the issues so much that I expect the debate to be a waste of time.  If you haven't guessed it by now, I must straightforwardly say that I am very cynical about the whole thing.  There are so many problems in the world, so why can't we solve them???  And then there is this passage from the New Testament...

1 Corinthians, Chapter 13

 1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.  2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.  3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.

  4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,  5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;  6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;  7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We need to stop viewing others through the prism of our own preconceived motives and hidden agendas.  Accepting others for what they truly are and trying to work with them anyway is a step in the right direction.  How do we do this?  By focusing on love first and other things a distant second.  I just wish this was mandatory for politicians; it would make my TV day a whole lot more enjoyable!!!

Oct. 22 Ecclesiastes 8-10

Oct. 22

Ecclesiastes 8-10

Ecc 8:1 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

Ecc 8:2 I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.

Ecc 8:3 Don't be hasty to go out of his presence. Don't persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,

Ecc 8:4 for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

Ecc 8:5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.

Ecc 8:6 For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.

Ecc 8:7 For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?

Ecc 8:8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practice it.

Ecc 8:9 All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

Ecc 8:10 So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.

Ecc 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Ecc 8:12 Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

Ecc 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow; because he doesn't fear God.

Ecc 8:14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

Ecc 8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Ecc 8:16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),

Ecc 8:17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.

Ecc 9:1 For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn't sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.

Ecc 9:3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Ecc 9:4 For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecc 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

Ecc 9:7 Go your way--eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.

Ecc 9:8 Let your garments be always white, and don't let your head lack oil.

Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

Ecc 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

Ecc 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecc 9:12 For man also doesn't know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.

Ecc 9:13 I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.

Ecc 9:14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.

Ecc 9:15 Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Ecc 9:16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Ecc 9:17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

Ecc 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecc 10:1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

Ecc 10:2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.

Ecc 10:3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Ecc 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

Ecc 10:5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

Ecc 10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

Ecc 10:7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

Ecc 10:8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

Ecc 10:9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

Ecc 10:10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

Ecc 10:11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.

Ecc 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

Ecc 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Ecc 10:14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

Ecc 10:15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.

Ecc 10:16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

Ecc 10:17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

Ecc 10:18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

Ecc 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

Ecc 10:20 Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

Oct. 22 Colossians 3

Oct. 22

Colossians 3

Col 3:1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

Col 3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

Col 3:6 for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Col 3:7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;

Col 3:8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

Col 3:9 Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

Col 3:10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

Col 3:11 where there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Col 3:14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

Col 3:17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

Col 3:18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

Col 3:21 Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.

Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Col 3:23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,

Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Col 3:25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

2 Peter, Chapter 2

                     "THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine Peter's detailed description of false teachers

2) To be aware of their techniques in leading others astray, and their
   sad end

3) To ascertain whether or not these false teachers had ever been true
   Christians

SUMMARY

One of the themes of Peter's second epistle is "beware of false
teachers", and such is the focus of the second chapter.  Just as there
were false prophets in Old Testament times, so there would be false
teachers.

Peter first describes the destructiveness of false teachers.  Denying
the Lord who bought them, they will secretly introduce destructive
heresies.  Many will follow them, and the way of truth will be
blasphemed.  But they will bring swift destruction on themselves (1-3).

Illustrating the doom of false teachers, Peter reminds his readers of
what happen to the angels who sinned, the ancient world destroyed by the
flood, and the fiery end of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Surely God knows how to
reserve the wicked for the day of punishment, and the example of Lot
shows that He also knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations
(4-9).

Peter then discusses the depravity of false teachers.  In arrogance they
revile against authority, all the while reveling in pleasure and lusts
as they circulate among the Christians they seek to influence.  Like the
prophet Balaam, they are motivated by the wages of unrighteousness and
have forsaken the right way.  Empty of true substance, they are like
wells without water, clouds tossed by a tempest (10-17).

Finally, Peter describes the deceptions of false teachers.  In both
their methods and promises they seek to deceive those who like them had
once escaped the pollutions of the world.  But the false teachers are
once again enslaved by such pollutions and their last end is worse than
the beginning (18-22).

OUTLINE

I. THE DESTRUCTIVENESS OF FALSE TEACHERS (1-3)

   A. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES (1-2)
      1. Just as there were false prophets, so there will be false
         teachers
      2. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord
         who bought them
      3. Many will follow their destructive ways, and the truth will be
         blasphemed

   B. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE METHODS (1,3)
      1. They bring in their heresies secretly
      2. They will exploit through covetousness and deceptive words

   C. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE END (1,3)
      1. They will bring swift destruction on themselves
      2. Their judgment is not idle, their destruction does not slumber

II. THE DOOM OF FALSE TEACHERS (4-9)

   A. THE EXAMPLE OF ANGELS WHO SINNED (4)
      1. God did not spare the angels who sinned
      2. He cast them down to hell (Tartarus)
      3. Delivered them to chains of darkness, reserved for judgment

   B. THE EXAMPLE OF THE FLOOD (5)
      1. God did not spare the ancient world, bringing the flood on the
         ungodly
      2. He saved Noah and his family of eight, a preacher of
         righteousness

   C. THE EXAMPLE OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH (6-8)
      1. God turned the cities into ashes, condemning them to
         destruction
      2. He made them an example to those who would live ungodly
      3. He delivered righteous Lot
         a. Who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
         b. Who was tormented daily by seeing and hearing their lawless
            deeds

   D. GOD WILL DELIVER THE GODLY, PUNISH THE UNJUST (9)
      1. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations
      2. He will reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of
         judgment

III. THE DEPRAVITY OF FALSE TEACHERS (10-17)

   A. REVILING AGAINST AUTHORITY (10-13a)
      1. They walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness
      2. They despise authority, are presumptuous, self-willed
      3. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, unlike angels
         a. Who are greater in power and might
         b. Who do not bring reviling accusations before the Lord
      4. They are like natural brute beasts made to be caught and
         destroyed
         a. Speaking evil of things they do not understand
         b. Who will utterly perish in their own corruption
         c. Who will receive the wages of unrighteousness

   B. REVELING WITH GREAT PLEASURE (13b-14)
      1. They count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime
      2. Spots and blemishes, they carouse in their own deceptions while
         feasting with Christians
      3. They have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin,
         beguiling unstable souls
      4. They have hearts trained in covetous practices, and are
         accursed children

   C. REVOLTING AGAINST THE RIGHT WAY (15-17)
      1. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray
      2. Like Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness
         a. Who was rebuked for his iniquity
         b. His madness restrained by donkey speaking with a man's voice
      3. They are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest
      4. For who the gloom of darkness is reserved forever

IV. THE DECEPTIONS OF FALSE TEACHERS (18-22)

   A. DECEPTIVE IN THEIR METHODS (18)
      1. They speak great swelling words of emptiness
      2. They allure those who have escaped through the lusts of the
         flesh, through licentiousness

   B. DECEPTIVE IN THEIR PROMISES (19)
      1. They promise liberty, while they themselves are slaves of
         corruption
      2. For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought
         into bondage

   C. WHOSE LATTER END IS WORSE THAN THE BEGINNING (20-22)
      1. Having become entangled and overcome by the pollutions of the
         world which they had escaped through the knowledge of the Lord
         and Savior Jesus Christ
      2. It would have been better not to have known the way of
         righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy
         commandment delivered to them
      3. It has happened to them according to the proverb
         a. "A dog returns to his own vomit"
         b. "A sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire"

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The destructiveness of false teachers (1-3)
   - The doom of false teachers (4-9)
   - The depravity of false teachers (10-17)
   - The deceptions of false teachers (18-22)

2) What does Peter warn that false teachers will do? (1)
   - Secretly bring in destructive heresies
   - Even denying the Lord who bought them

3) What impact will such false teachers have? (2)
   - Many will follow their destructive ways
   - The way of truth will be blasphemed

4) How will such teachers exploit people? (3)
   - By covetousness, with deceptive words

5) What three examples does Peter use to illustrate the doom of false
   teachers? (4-6)
   - The angels who sinned and were cast down to hell
   - The ancient world destroyed by the flood
   - The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes

6) How was Lot oppressed by living in Sodom? (7-8)
   - Every day seeing and hearing the filthy conduct of wicked

7) What two things does the Lord know to do? (9)
   - How to deliver the godly out of temptations
   - How to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment

8) Who in particular will receive such punishment? (10)
   - Those who walk in uncleanness and despise authority
   - Those who are presumptuous and self-willed; not afraid to speak
     evil of dignitaries

9) What are angels unwilling to do? (11)
   - Bring reviling accusations against dignitaries before the Lord

10) How does Peter further describe the false teachers? (12-14)
   - They speak evil of things they do not understand
   - They count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime
   - They have eyes full of adultery, beguiling unstable souls
   - They have hearts trained in covetousness, and are accursed children

11) In whose way have such false teachers followed? (15-16)
   - Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness and was rebuked by a
     donkey

12) How else does Peter describe these false teachers? (17)
   - As wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest
   - For whom the gloom of darkness is reserved

13) How are the false teachers able to allure others? (18)
   - By speaking great swelling words of emptiness
   - Through the lusts of the flesh and licentiousness

14) Who will they seek to allure? (18)
   - The ones who have escaped from those living in error

15) In promising others liberty, what are they themselves?  Why? (19)
   - Slaves of corruption
   - For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into
     bondage

16) What had these false teachers once escaped?  How? (20)
   - The pollutions of the world
   - Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ

17) What had then happened to them? (20)
   - They were again entangled in the pollutions of the world and
     overcome

18) How had their latter end become worse for them than the beginning?
    (20-21)
   - It would have better for them not to have known the way of
     righteousness
   - Than knowing  it, to then turn from the holy commandment

19) What twofold proverb does Peter use to describe their sorry
    condition? (22)
   - A dog returns to his own vomit
   - A sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire

20) What in this chapter reveals that these false teachers had once
    been saved? (1,15,20,21, 22)
   - The Lord had bought them
   - They have forsaken the right way
   - They had escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
     of Jesus
   - They had known the way of righteousness
 - Like a sow, they had been washed

Irresistible

There is something wonderful about having young children.  I think God designed their growth in such a way as to make them irresistible!!! The sign is

so true!!!!  But, what if God asked you to give up your child; would you do it?  Even worse, what if God asked you to kill your own child?  What then?  Such a thing actually happened and here is the tale...

Genesis, Chapter 22

1 It happened after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

  2 He said, “Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”

  3 Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him.  4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off.  5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder. We will worship, and come back to you.”  6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.  7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?”

He said, “Here I am, my son.”

He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

  8 Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.  9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood.  10 Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.

  11 The angel of Yahweh called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

  12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Frankly, I don't think I could have ever done what Abraham did.  But, fortunately, God has never asked such a thing and never will, for I have daughters and not sons.  But the principle is still there and ultimate obedience is the test!  Not just for the father, but for the son as well!!!  Recently, I met my new grandson, Chase and what a wonder child he is!!!  So, kids have been on my mind and especially the preciousness of them.  At this point, the only thing I can say is love God and because you love him, love your children all the more!!!  No play on words or clever insights, just love.  If you do that right... its all you need to do!!!

Oct. 21 Ecclesiastes 5-7

Oct. 21

Ecclesiastes 5-7

Ecc 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.

Ecc 5:2 Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Ecc 5:3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

Ecc 5:4 When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

Ecc 5:5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

Ecc 5:6 Don't allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don't protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

Ecc 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

Ecc 5:8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

Ecc 5:9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

Ecc 5:10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

Ecc 5:11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

Ecc 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Ecc 5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

Ecc 5:14 Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

Ecc 5:15 As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

Ecc 5:16 This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

Ecc 5:17 All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

Ecc 5:18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

Ecc 5:19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.

Ecc 5:20 For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.

 

Ecc 6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:

Ecc 6:2 a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Ecc 6:3 If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:

Ecc 6:4 for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

Ecc 6:5 Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

Ecc 6:6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don't all go to one place?

Ecc 6:7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Ecc 6:8 For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

Ecc 6:9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecc 6:10 Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

Ecc 6:11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

Ecc 6:12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

 

Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one's birth.

Ecc 7:2 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.

Ecc 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

Ecc 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecc 7:5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Ecc 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Ecc 7:7 Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

Ecc 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecc 7:9 Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Ecc 7:10 Don't say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.

Ecc 7:11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

Ecc 7:12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Ecc 7:13 Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

Ecc 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

Ecc 7:15 All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.

Ecc 7:16 Don't be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Ecc 7:17 Don't be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

Ecc 7:18 It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don't withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.

Ecc 7:19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Ecc 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn't sin.

Ecc 7:21 Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

Ecc 7:22 for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

Ecc 7:23 All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.

Ecc 7:24 That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

Ecc 7:25 I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.

Ecc 7:26 I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

Ecc 7:27 Behold, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;

Ecc 7:28 which my soul still seeks; but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

Ecc 7:29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.