The Tree: My 2017 Holiday Post – The Vigilant Citizen

Ecc 7:2  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.

Ecc 7:3  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Ecc 7:4  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecc 7:5  It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Ecc 7:6  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

Ecc 7:7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Ecc 7:10  Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

Ecc 7:11  Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

Ecc 7:12  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.

Ecc 7:13  Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

Ecc 7:14  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.

Ecc 7:15  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.

Ecc 7:16  Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Ecc 7:17  Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Ecc 7:18  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.

Todd