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Chapter 7
A GOOD REPUTATION is more valuable than the most expensive perfume.
The day one dies is better than the day he is born. It is better to
spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are gong to die and
it a good thing to think about it while there is still time. Sorrow is
better than laughter for sadness has a refining influence onus. Yes, a
wise man thinks much of death, while the fool thins only of having a good
time now.
It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a
fool! For a fool's compliment is a quickly gone as paper in the fire, and
it is silly to be impressed by it.
The wise man is turned into a fool by a bribe, it destroys his
understanding.
Finishing is better than starting! Patience is better than pride!
Don't be quick tempered-that is being a fool.
Don't long for “the good old days,” for you don't know whether they
were any better than these!
To be wise is as good as being rich, in fact, it is better. You can
get anything by either wisdom or money, but being wise has many
advantages.
See the way God does things and fall into line. Don't fight the facts
of nature. Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike,
realize that God gives one as well as the other-so that everyone will
realize that nothing is certain in this life.
In this silly life I have seen everything, including the fact that
some of the good die young and some of the wicked live on and on. So don't
be too good or too wise. Why destroy yourself? On the other hand don't be
to wicked either-don't be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
Tackle every task that comes along and if you fear God you can expect
his blessing.
A wise man is stronger than the mayors of ten big cities! And there is
not a single man in all the earth who is always good and never sins.
Don't eavesdrop! You many hear your servant cursing you! For you know
how often you yourself curse other!
I have tried my best to be wise, I declared, “I will be wise,” but it
didn't work. Wisdom is far away, and very difficult to find. I searched
everywhere, determined to find wisdom and the reason for things, and to
prove to myself the wickedness of folly, and that foolishness is madness.
A prostitute is more bitter than death. May it please God that you
escape from her, but sinners don't evade her snares.
This is my conclusion, says the Preacher. Step by step I came to this
result after researching in every direction: One tenth of one per cent of
the men I have interviewed could be said to be wise, but not one woman!
And I found that though God has made men upright, each has turned away
to follow his own downward road. |
