2018 Bible Study Recordings:

Life is a Result of a Series of Choices

The more you read Ecclesiastes, the wiser you become. If you don't read it, you won't be able to see through many things, and if you can't see through them, you won't live well. If you pay attention to many things in life, you will find them very interesting. People live to be thirty, forty, and even eighty years old, and the result is: Oh, how did I end up like this? Isn't this your own choice?

A person's life is a result of a series of choices. Today, if you've ended up this way, you can ask yourself: How did I end up like this?. Some people live terribly, yet they don't even know it. This is a very strange phenomenon. Later, I discovered that people usually don't do what they think is wrong, but do what they think is right. When they do it, they always have reasons, completely ignoring what others think or how others see it.

Some time ago, I ministered to a sister and told her: Do you know how people see you? Let me tell you, we see you as an ungrateful person, and we want to stay as far away from you as possible. No one would feel good hearing this, and neither did she. She asked me: Why do you see me that way?. She really didn't know. I asked her: How do you see yourself?. She thought she was a very good person. I can understand her feelings. Why? Because when people do things, they always feel that what they are doing is reasonable and that they are not wrong. What's in people's minds is a result of selective memory. When you hear something that suits you, you will agree and absorb it. When you hear something that doesn't suit you, you will disagree.

So, the question is, if you've lived a long life and ended up this way, don't you need to reflect on yourself? It is indeed difficult for a person to change themselves and become wise, but it is very easy to become foolish, because you don't need to change anything. Just live according to your nature.

It is indeed difficult to be a wise person, difficult because you cannot pry open the head of a foolish person and put wisdom into it. But thank God! I still don't give up today. In the process of ministering, as soon as I have a thought of giving up, I can't minister. If I see foolish people and choose to give up, then I won't be able to continue ministering. The state people live out in this world is actually the result of their series of choices.

I once raised a question: a pair of twins live their whole lives, looking almost identical, why do they have completely different endings? The reason is that this is the result of each person's series of choices. Different choices, different endings. In a person's life, they will always encounter this or that. How you choose in the face of these things is the key. Some people think they are very smart when making choices, but the results are often a slap in the face. There are also people who do things that are so foolish, but they think they are very smart. This is what makes my ministry difficult.

A person must have wisdom to live well. If you want to have wisdom, read Ecclesiastes chapter 7 carefully. This chapter talks about things related to wisdom. What exactly is wisdom? What is foolishness? How does a person become wise? How does a person become foolish? It is all explained clearly.

Liking to Explain is Very Foolish

I meet some people who always like to explain. No matter what happens, if they don't give people a good explanation, a good account, it seems wrong. But what's there to explain? Foolish people like to explain and explain, what's the benefit?

Today, someone called me and asked if I could lend him 3 million. He told me about his great investment plan, but he doesn't seem reliable! Even if I had 3 million, I wouldn't lend it to him. I personally usually don't like to explain. If someone asks me to borrow money, I say: I don't have money. I don't have money, what's there to explain? Even if I had money, I wouldn't lend it. In this case, some people would say: You showed off that you have 3 million, and a friend came to ask you to borrow it. Isn't it bad not to lend it? Besides, he wants you to invest in his good project.

What to do at this time? If you have to explain, it will be very messy. If it were me, I would tell him directly that I am not interested or that I don't have the habit of lending money to people. Explaining is trying to make everything clear, but this is not wisdom. Explaining and explaining is not as good as just telling him directly.

There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. (Ecclesiastes 7:15)

Solomon compared these things one by one, but he couldn't find the reason. How can you find it? If you want to find wisdom and the reason for everything, you won't find it. You want to explain this and explain that, but many things are complex and cannot be explained clearly. For example, why do people eat? Because if you don't eat, you'll be hungry. Why are you hungry if you don't eat? How do you answer that? If you ask three more questions, most people can't stand it. You eat when you're hungry, but you can't explain why you eat when you're hungry. There are also people who ask me why I believe in Jesus as soon as they come. I say: There's no why. They ask again: Why is there no why?. There's just no why, I just want to believe in Jesus! If I answer like this, he can't continue to ask me why I believe in Jesus.

I really don't like to explain this or that. If others ask me seven questions, I will answer one or two questions. By the third question, they can't ask anymore, because I am not a person who looks for reasons. We know that believing in the spiritual realm, believing that God is real, is a very unreasonable thing from a human perspective. If believing in the Lord seems very reasonable at first glance, then we should be careful, because only believing in what is visible and reasonable is not called faith. On the matter of believing or not believing, we should not look for reasons, nor should we seek rationality. As long as we believe, we simplify complex problems.

God Made Man Upright, But They Have Sought Out Many Devices

God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices. What does this mean? It means when God created mankind, it was good to have people do only one thing, which is to trust in God. Living is originally a simple thing, but people complicate simple things. Where did human devices come from? God said that you cannot eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but all other fruits can be eaten. Why can't you eat it? Will you really die if you eat it? People were slightly doubtful in their hearts, and as a result, they were fooled by the serpent. One why led people to disobey God's word and eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This eating brought mankind into sin. Seeking out many devices comes from asking why.

When I cast out demons, I found that if a person always likes to ask why, then this person is basically a person who likes to speculate. Behind speculation is a spirit of splitting hairs, and behind this spirit is another spirit that likes to split hairs. It's very interesting. I have to cast out a pair, one who splits hairs and one who likes to split hairs. I can't explain this, how can I explain it? If you still ask me why, I can only say there is no why.

If a lot of whys appear in your head, for example, why are you a loyal person? How could you be a loyal person? What if you are not loyal in the future? After asking, people also fall into confusion, but there is no need to answer these. Later, I also discovered that people who talk to ghosts will definitely lose. As soon as a ghost asks why, you faint. Yes! Why? As a result, you are fooled by the devil. Never talk to ghosts, talking to ghosts is a bad habit. Ghosts like to lead people into why.

Sometimes we have many confusions when we look at the things of the world, for example, good people don't live long, but bad people live a long time. This is too difficult to understand. We also see that people have many births, deaths, toils, and worries in their lives. There are also disasters, accidents, and unfair things that befall them, which are really difficult to understand. However, you don't see Joseph asking why, whether he was framed by his brothers or sold into slavery in Egypt, he never asked: Why did you sell me here?

Later, I discovered that faith is the key to solving all complex problems. For example, people have been drinking water for so many years, do they know that water is H2O? People only knew that water is a chemical element for how many years? If you have to ask why water is H2O? you can't ask for an answer. If you go to a restaurant to eat, as long as you ask if it is gutter oil? and then go to the kitchen to see, and it really is gutter oil, then you can't eat, you can only go hungry. Anyway, I don't care, it's very troublesome to make everything complicated. Look at what the Bible says:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. (Mark 16:17-18)

Thank God! God created man originally was upright. Are you willing to be an upright person?

Foolish Behavior: Extortion and Bribery

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:7)

Kidnapping for ransom is very foolish. A man named Cheung Tze-keung kidnapped Li Ka-shing's son and demanded 1 billion Hong Kong dollars. At that time, Li Ka-shing did not call the police, but gave 1 billion as promised and redeemed his son. However, Cheung Tze-keung spent the 1 billion Hong Kong dollars quickly and ended up being very poor again and went to kidnap again. This is foolishness. We think that money from extortion will make us rich, but behind extortion is an evil spirit, and the evil spirit will drive you to do many foolish things. Even if you have 1 billion, it is not enough for you to spend.

A bribe corrupts the heart, both extortion and bribery are signs of foolishness, we must be especially careful. We should rely on the correct method to solve problems. If you pay attention, we don't give gifts or bribes, we don't do these messy things, and yet we live very well. Those who receive bribes all day long do not end up well.

God created man upright, living is a very simple thing, there is no need to come up with so many devices. It is very foolish to rely on one's own devices to solve problems. Trusting in God makes everything simple. Follow my train of thought, and you will understand that all wisdom is in God. What is my train of thought? Our God owns the universe. If our relationship with God is good, do we need to find any other relationships? Will we live in poverty? Do we need to extort or bribe? We don't need to. God is the God who makes people rich.

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. (Ecclesiastes 7:18)

For example, when we saw the house prices in Hangzhou soaring after the 2016 G20 summit, some people took this matter very seriously and felt that they had missed a great opportunity. But in my opinion, if you have it, you have it. If you don't have it, don't force it. Do what you can do, and don't do what you can't do.

Some people can't see through these things, for example, if their child has to go to elementary school, they ask people everywhere in order to go to a key elementary school. What's the point? Just go to whatever school you can get into! I basically don't ask people for help. I do what I can do, and I don't do what I can't do. Some people say that you have to do something about your child's schooling! If you think about it carefully, will you definitely be able to study well if you go to a key school?

If you take your child's schooling very seriously, you need money. You borrow money from here and there to get the money, and you have to build relationships and bribe people. In the end, your child may not be able to read well. Some people take having money very seriously, so they borrow money to do business. When they borrow money, they have to repay the loan. If they can't repay it, they start to go crazy and fuss about these things every day. When people make up so many things, they become impatient, and impatience begins to turn into anger, just as the scripture says:

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. (Ecclesiastes 7:9-10)

I don't like to make up a lot of things. I do what I can do, and I don't do what I can't do. If you make up so many things, you will start to become impatient and angry if things don't go well, and you will live more and more uncomfortably. So you say that the old days were better than the present days. Weren't the old days the days you came through? It is not wise to say this, but foolish. If you think so, you will feel that there is no hope for the days, no future, and you will be entangled and depressed all day long. Watching others make money makes you even more annoyed and impatient. Living is originally a very simple thing, but you have to make it so complicated to live like this today. We must have wisdom, and wisdom can preserve people's lives! This is the benefit of true knowledge.

Do Not Be Excessively Righteous

Smart people are very clear about the priority of things and value the ending of things. Some people only value the beginning of things and do not value the ending of things. If the beginning of something is very glorious and honorable, but the ending is ruined, what are you doing!

Some people are excessively righteous, which is to love to fight injustice and enforce justice on behalf of heaven. Like the heroes of Liangshan, everyone's ending is very tragic. Does God need you to enforce justice on behalf of heaven? Can't God manage it himself? God makes the crooked straight, do you have to make it straight? Actually, it's all useless, everything is under God's control. When a dynasty is about to be replaced, no one can stop it. Thinking you have wisdom and fighting injustice are foolish.

When pastoring, there are some people we can't pastor because we can't solve their problems. I honestly tell people: I'm sorry, you can find another job. Our temple is too small. You have to find a big temple. I can't solve your problems, you should go! I removed that person from the group. Don't take on a job that you aren't qualified for. But some pastors have to argue with me and say: Why can't you pastor them? How can you treat them like this? No matter what level of leader you are, why do you have to do what you can't do? Do not be excessively righteous, as if you are very powerful, but you are not. Do not be overly wise, why destroy yourself?

Do not be overrighteous, neither be over wise— why destroy yourself? Do not be quick to condemn, or you may condemn yourself. (Ecclesiastes 7:16-17)

Those who fear God are very wise and will not hold on to this for beauty and not let go of the other, grasping everything tightly. Those who fear God only grasp one thing, which is to grasp God. When reading the Bible, take a good look at how Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and David did things. They are all masters. I want to learn from them, but I won't finish learning in this lifetime. If you don't want to learn, how can you finish learning? Don't be foolish, foolish people always want to seek many devices, explain this and explain that, as if they are very powerful.

Reputation is What God Values

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 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. Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed a wise person’s rebuke than to listen to a fool’s song. (Ecclesiastes 7:1-5)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Here it talks about many better than, better than means better than, which means this is better than that. When doing things, wise people know which is important and which is not important. For example, when two people play chess, why does one win and one lose? Because every step the winner takes is the most important step. Take the most important step every time, how can you not win? So every step you take, there is only one most important chess piece, and the order of priority is very important.

Foolish people are sometimes very interesting. Some people were still giving testimony last week, talking about how God blessed them, but next week they won't come to the meeting because of something. I wonder: What kind of brain is this? They still don't understand what the order of priority is. In my process of believing in the Lord, my order of priority is absolutely accurate. In my life, recognizing serving God and worshiping God is the most important thing, because God helped me out of trouble when I was desperate and became my hope. After experiencing God, fear and reverence linger in my heart, and I am very respectful of God.

I have been believing in the Lord from the end of 1991 to now. For more than 20 years, I have never missed a Sunday. All the Sundays combined have been more than one thousand days. I have never missed a small group Bible study, even if the small group leader is talking nonsense. The reason why I can insist on going to Bible study every week is because I fear God and I obey the rules of the church. You ask me what benefits I can get from it? Actually, I have also gained a lot. I also learn some lessons from the mistakes of others. The small group leader didn't lead the Bible study very well. I thought that when I become a small group leader in the future, I can't do this and that, and I learned some experience from it. When遇到a boss with little expertise at work, I don't care, I just learn from the strong side of others to make up for my shortcomings. Therefore, it is very important to understand the priority of things. I insist on Bible study because I fear God and value God.

A good name is better than fine perfume. I am a person who doesn't like to take advantage of others. For example, someone helps me with decoration, and they don't charge for this or that, that's not okay. If you put in time and labor, you still have to give people money. Some people don't understand, they must take the advantages that they should take, and they also take the advantages that they shouldn't take. These people don't value their reputation very much, and they never reflect on themselves, and they still feel good about themselves. To what extent are these people foolish! If your reputation is not good, what's the use of having more anointing?

Everyone should value their reputation because it is their personal brand. If you are a brand akin to a bargain basement item, then you shall have a bargain basement life. If you are a premium brand, such as BMW or Mercedes-Benz, you will have a premium life. Premium goods are easy to market. If you are seeking employment and your reputation is poor – a hot temper, offensive speech, a tendency to take advantage – no company will want you. If your reputation is poor, and you are self-satisfied, it is even worse. It is not about others viewing you this way; you must reflect on why they see you in this light.

Reputation is valued by God. As a son of the living God, do I need to take bribes? As a son of the living God, do I need to extort? As a son of the living God, do I need to debase myself to beg? As a son of the living God, do I need to disregard my reputation to seize petty advantages? Absolutely not. We are sons of the living God; we see through both life and death. Is not living a simple matter? Since living is simple, live simply. Work, pressure – they all dissipate, just as the Scripture says: A day of death is better than a day of birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

Upon death, worldly toil ceases. Many place excessive importance on living; at the first sign of illness, they panic and seek remedies everywhere, resulting in being deceived. If you see through life and death, illness is simply that – illness. I do not concern myself with it. That is how I have lived. At 40, I experienced severe nosebleeds, a clear symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer. I chose not to worry about it. Family, marriage, my son – I do not overvalue them. Descendants will make their own way. To this day, I still long to leave this world, to meet my God, to be with the Lord, which is infinitely better. If one does not fear death, why fear life? Is not living simple? Can you understand this perspective? If your level is low, you certainly cannot.

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. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

The day of death is better than the day of birth. A wise person will see through life and death, and the result is a very relaxed life. Recently, I plan to purchase a beautiful coffin. When someone is troubled and seeks my counsel, I will neither use acupuncture nor cupping. I will simply have them lie in the coffin for a while, hold a small memorial service. When they emerge from the coffin, they will suddenly find all their problems have diminished. Why? Because they can see through life and death. How easy it is to live this way!

The greatest fear in life is not seeing through things. I often see people who are seventy or eighty years old, suffering from cancer, yet unwilling to die, not having had enough of the toil, worry, and torment of illness. Those who see through it know it is no good. If you cannot see through life and death and still desperately want to live, you are but a step away from foolishness.

Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:3)

Sorrow is better than laughter; in sorrow, one often understands what living is truly about. Coming into this world is a one-way journey. Choose to live joyfully, not in frivolous laughter. If living brings pressure, choose joy within the pressure. I choose to see the good in everything.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:4-5)

People rarely grow when happy; they often awaken suddenly in a house of mourning. Yet some remain unawakened even after several deaths in the family.

One person readily believes others. Someone said to him, Ah, you are the most impressive person I have ever met. You are very good at making money; you will surely be wealthy in the future. This was pleasing to hear, but the result was a significant financial loss.

It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. There is nothing pleasant to hear from me. If you want to hear pleasantries, do not come to me; go where such words are spoken. Coming to me, I will only tell you directly where you fall short and where you need to grow. People truly need to grow constantly; a little nudge can bring clarity.

Wise people have a characteristic: they highly value the outcome of things. Some, however, overemphasize the beginning and forget the desired result. I once removed a sister from a group, and someone questioned me, How can you treat this sister this way? He did not understand what I was doing. I did it to build up the sister I removed. Those who discern good and evil tend to disregard the outcome, focusing only on the act itself.

Many start with high hopes but end poorly. For example, in sales, why should people buy your product? They do not know if you are a swindler. If I were in sales, I would not ask people to buy my product directly. I would analyze the product based on your needs, and after the analysis, you would naturally buy it. In sales, find the customer’s needs first; this is a higher level than simply asking them to buy your product.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and a hopeful start is useless unless the matter is successfully concluded. What is the use of doing many things without completing a single one? A hundred failed relationships are equivalent to nothing, because there is no result. Therefore, wise people value results and are goal-oriented.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Many calculate endlessly but do not know the outcome. As Ecclesiastes 11:1 says about casting grain upon the water, some calculate clearly, and though it seems reasonable, it yields no good result. When the result is not as calculated, they become depressed.

Take tithing, for example. Is nine dollars more or less than ten dollars? Nine dollars is certainly less, but I believe it is more. I know some do not understand. From the first day I believed in the Lord, I decided to tithe, and to this day, the tithes I have given are not a small amount. Yet I have not become poor because of it; instead, I have become wealthier than before.

In my eyes, God's blessing is more important than wealth. Some churches have many members but few who tithe. A pastor once told me that their church had over forty brothers and sisters from China, but only one tithed. The pastor dared not ask them to tithe. Something is not right. How can such a church be blessed?

Why do I think nine dollars is more than ten dollars? Because if that nine dollars is an investment, there will certainly be a return. Ten dollars, however, will not automatically appreciate and may even depreciate due to inflation. Hearing this, some may think I love money, but I do not. I enjoy making money, and it is not difficult for me. If you spend more time with me, you will believe what I say; I am not exaggerating. When I say the end of a matter is better than its beginning, I mean do not judge the merit of a matter by what was done, but by the achieved result.

For instance, our healing and deliverance prayers are very effective. Last year, my mother developed Alzheimer's. Matters from ten years ago became as yesterday, and she was utterly confused, unable to take care of herself. But after a year of prayerful warfare, something remarkable happened; the result was excellent. Without hospital treatment, my mother is now very clear-headed. One day, my sister forgot where she had placed her bag and could not find it, but my mother remembered it was on the stool, and indeed it was. She can now wear leather gloves and work with us energetically. Last year, she needed three rests to walk a hundred meters; now, she can walk a kilometer without stopping.

How did this effect come about? By dealing with her carnal passions and desires. Know that setting your mind on the flesh is death. If I indulged my mother's flesh, I would be pushing her toward death. So, I deal with her flesh every day, and as a result, my mother emerged from her Alzheimer's symptoms. When I dealt with her flesh, onlookers almost thought I was abusing an elderly person, but I ultimately brought her out of her Alzheimer's condition.

Many indulge the elderly's flesh, resulting in their demise. Many are dismissive, thinking themselves capable. My mother used to be this way, enjoying eating, drinking, and entertainment, with no physical problems. But the year before last, she was fine; last year, she suddenly declined, becoming confused and muddled, unaware of many things, even unable to take care of herself.

When one is goal-oriented and result-oriented, one will surely persevere, and perseverance overcomes pride. What does pride bring? A superficial greatness that results in ruin. For example, my brother once told me he felt disrespected in the family, but why should he be respected? He flaunts his money, making it hard to respect him.

If we are result-oriented, we strengthen our faith, telling ourselves we can surely achieve it. I have an innate determination to succeed in what I do; I was certain I could deliver my mother from Alzheimer's. You may say, That's you; I can't do it. But if you want this result, you can choose to achieve it, being guided by this goal. Do not exhaust yourself to the point of collapse without being result-oriented. Knowing that we should be result-oriented is a crucial sign of gaining wisdom.

Do Not Take People's Words to Heart

I often encounter people who become angry with me while I am speaking, thinking my words are unpleasant. Although my words may be harsh, I hope for a good outcome for you. Yet you disregard your outcome, focusing instead on what I said, thinking I am cursing you, viewing it as unfair, and struggling to defend yourself.

Many always dwell on what others say, instead of recognizing their own problems and needed changes. We should learn from David. When David's servants sought to kill the one who cursed him, David said that if his own son treated him this way, so be it. Let him curse; pretense is also acceptable. Often, we value ourselves too highly, yet we gain no honor. If we see ourselves as dogs, God will exalt us to the highest place. This is wisdom.

Let me share my sentiments. In pastoring, speaking harshly is wisdom because it is difficult to shepherd effectively with pleasing words alone. After speaking harsh words, observe the reaction. If they disregard your words, they are fine and can withstand shepherding. If they bristle and attack upon being poked, do not shepherd them. We should not force shepherding on those we cannot shepherd, because we shepherd sheep, not wolves.

Ultimately, You Must Discern God's Works

Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? Do not think you can straighten what is crooked; do not think you are very capable. Do not be shocked by minor events. When Abraham encountered famine in Canaan, he was fine. But some begin to doubt, questioning, What kind of place is this? Is God blind? This is not the promised land! This is a foolish idea.

We must learn to discern God's works. God brought the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness, not the promised land. The Israelites thought it was not God's will, and six hundred thousand of them died in the wilderness. Why were they struck down in the wilderness if they could not see it as God's work? Failing to understand God's work for forty years is foolish.

God is good. Only if you discern and understand God's works and principles will you trust God more. Only by trusting God will you avoid becoming foolish. Trusting and fearing God simplifies life. We must all begin to learn this lesson.

Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? 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. (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14)

Some become anxious and depressed when unemployed, drifting aimlessly at home, sleeping until sunset. Know that unemployment is the best opportunity to improve your skills. When occupied with work, there is no time. Seize this time to improve yourself.

In prosperous times, be happy while earning money, and do not complain. Therefore, when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this. God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything about their future. Even after death, one will not know what will happen, because we will speak of matters after death then.

This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes. (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

Learn to be someone who trusts God and simplifies their life. God created mankind upright. Trusting God is simple. Trusting yourself is laborious. Relying on your own hands is cursed. By relying on God, we are blessed. Know that living simply is wisdom. Thinking so much every day damages your brain cells, and you remain strained. Living this way is too tiring. Let us learn to be joyful in our labor!

May God bless everyone!

Verses

7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

7:2 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.

7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.

7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

7:5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

7:6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

7:7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

7:11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.

7:12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

7:13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?

7:14 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.

7:15 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.

7:16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself?

7:17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?

7:18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

7:19 Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.

7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

7:21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—

7:22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

7:23 All this I tested by wisdom and said, “I am determined to be wise”—but this was beyond me.

7:24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—who can discover it?

7:25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to know that folly is wickedness and that wickedness is madness.

7:26 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.

7:27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—

7:28 while I was still searching but not finding—I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.

7:29 This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

Ecclesiastes List