Daily Bible Reading and Prayer, KJV, May 10-Nov 9, 2018, Acts to Hebrews

June 28, Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 KJV
[1] A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Isn't there a verse in Proverbs that says something very similar? 'A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches' or something like that.
[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 will lay it to his heart.
[3] Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
[4] The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It kinda seems like Solomon is contradicting himself, he said earlier that there is a time for mourning and a time for happiness, but now he says that it is better to be sad and mourn than be happy.
[5] It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
True, you can valuable lessons from the rebuke of the wise but you learn absolutely nothing valuable from fools.
[6] For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
[7] Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
[8] Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
[9] Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Don't be quick to get angry, and don't ever let your anger control you. I find something that helps when I am angry and seriously thinking about inflicting bodily harm on someone *cough brother cough*, is to remember that you are in control of your body, and if you tell your fist not to punch, it doesn't have any power to punch on its own, also it is takes a lot of energy to hit someone, and I am way to tired and lazy to do that.
[10] Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
[11] Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
[12] For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
[13] Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
[14] In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
[15] All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
[16] Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
[17] Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
[18] It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
[19] Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Makes me think about the old saying about brains and brawn.
[20] For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
The only just man who never sinned to walk the earth was Jesus Christ.
[21] Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Don't care about everything everyone says about you, cause there will always be someone who will say something bad about you.
[22] For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
[23] All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
[24] That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
[25] I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
[26] And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
[27] Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
[28] Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
[29] Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Dear Lord, You alone are wonderful and amazing, You sent your only Son to die for us even though You could have easily just abandoned us. Thank you so much for everything You have done for us, thank you for the time I had at volleyball even though my team lost and I was coughing so hard I couldn't walk straight. I guess the upside of that was that my crush drove me home as he was leaving early and if I was not sick I would have left later with someone else, so thank you for that. Thank you again that my brother's injury is not as bad as it could have been, please bless the healing that he will not have any serious permanent problems. Please also bless our dear family friends that are feeling the unfortunate side effects of aging, please give them You grace. Please bless everyone in my prayer journal, You alone know all their struggles and trials, in Jesus's name, Amen.