Pre-Game Proverb with John Rayner

Ecc 9:4  There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”Ecc 9:5  For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. Ecc 9:6  Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Ecc 9:2  The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t. Ecc 9:3  It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their ow...

Ecc 9:1  For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.

Ecc 8:16  In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. Ecc 8:17  I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Ecc 8:15  So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

Ecc 8:14  There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

Ecc 8:13  But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

Ecc 8:12  But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.

Ecc 8:11  When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

Ecc 8:10  And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

Ecc 8:8  No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. Ecc 8:9  All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

Ecc 8:7  For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

Ecc 8:6  For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man's trouble is heavy upon him.

Ecc 8:5  He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.

 Ecc 8:2  I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. Ecc 8:3  Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. Ecc 8:4  For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Ecc 8:1  Who is like the wise? 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 7:28  Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman! Ecc 7:29  But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Ecc 7:26  I discovered that a seductive woman is a trap more bitter than death. Her passion is a snare, and her soft hands are chains. Those who are pleasing to God will escape her, but sinners will be caught in her snare. Ecc 7:27  “This is my conclusion,” says the Teacher. “I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.

Ecc 7:23  I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work. Ecc 7:24  Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find. Ecc 7:25  I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madne...

Ecc 7:21  Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

Ecc 7:20  Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. 

Ecc 7:19  Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Ecc 7:16  So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? Ecc 7:17  On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Ecc 7:18  Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

Ecc 7:15  I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.

Ecc 7:14  Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.