Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 ICB

[1] It is better to have respect than good perfume. The day a person dies is better than the day he was born. [2] It is better to go to a funeral than to a party. We all must die. Everyone living should think about this. [3] Sorrow is better than laughter. Sadness has a good influence on you. [4] A wise man thinks about death, but a foolish person thinks only about having a good time. [5] It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a foolish person. [6] The laughter of foolish people is useless. It is like heating a pot by burning straw. There is a lot of fire but no heat. [7] Even a wise man will become foolish if he lets money change his thinking. [8] It is better to finish something than to start it. It is better to be patient than to be proud. [9] Don't become mad quickly, because getting angry is foolish. [10] Don't ask, "Why was life better in the 'good old days'?" It is not wise to ask such questions. [11] Wisdom is as good to have as inheriting property. It helps people see what to do. [12] Wisdom is like money. They both help a person. But wisdom is better than money, because it can save a person's life. [13] Stop and think about everything that God causes to happen. You cannot change a thing, even if you think it is wrong. [14] When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember: God gives us good times and hard times. And no one knows what tomorrow will bring. [15] In my short life I have seen both of these: I have seen good men die being good. And I have seen evil men living a long time. [16] Don't try to be too right all the time. Don't try to be too wise, either. Why should you destroy yourself this way? [17] Don't be too wicked. And don't be a foolish person. You will die young if you do so. [18] Try to avoid going too far in doing anything. Those who honor God will avoid doing too much of anything. [19] Wisdom gives a person strength. One wise man is stronger than ten leaders in a city. [20] Surely there is not a good man on earth who always does good and never sins. [21] Don't listen to everything people say. You might hear your servant insulting you. [22] You know that many times you also have insulted others. [23] I used wisdom to test all these things. I wanted to be wise, but it was too hard for me. [24] I cannot understand why things are as they are. It is too hard for anyone to understand. [25] I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom. I tried to find some meaning for everything. I learned that it is foolish to be evil. And it is crazy to act like a fool. [26] I found that some women are worse than death. They are as dangerous as traps. Their love is like a net. Their arms hold men like chains. A man who follows God will run away from them. But a sinner will be caught by them. [27] The Teacher says, "This is what I learned: I added all these things together to see if I could find some meaning for everything. [28] I am still looking for it, but I have not found it. But I did discover that truly good people are hard to find. Such people are one in a million! [29] One thing I have learned: God made people good. But people have found all kinds of ways to be bad."