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Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
English Standard Version
The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
7 (A)A good name is better than precious ointment,
and (B)the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will (C)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
(D)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (E)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 (F)For as the crackling of (G)thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.[a]
7 Surely (H)oppression drives the wise into madness,
and (I)a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
and (J)the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 (K)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
(L)for anger lodges in the heart[b] of fools.
10 Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
an advantage to those who (M)see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like (N)the protection of money,
and the advantage of knowledge is that (O)wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider (P)the work of God:
(Q)who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 (R)In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, (S)so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Hebrew in the bosom
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
New International Version
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(A)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(C) is the destiny(D) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(E)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(F)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(G) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(H) under the pot,
so is the laughter(I) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(J) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(K) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(L) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(M)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(N) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(O)
and benefits those who see the sun.(P)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(Q)
Galatians 4:12-20
English Standard Version
Galatians 4:12-20
English Standard Version
12 Brothers,[a] (A)I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (B)You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was (C)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you (D)at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me (E)as an angel of God, (F)as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by (G)telling you the truth?[b] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and (H)not only when I am present with you, 19 (I)my little children, (J)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ (K)is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31
- Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you
Galatians 4:12-20
New International Version
Galatians 4:12-20
New International Version
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(A) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(B) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(C) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(D)
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(E) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(F) 19 My dear children,(G) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(H) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Matthew 15:21-28
English Standard Version
Matthew 15:21-28
English Standard Version
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 (A)And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, (B)a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, (C)“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, (D)“Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, (E)“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and (F)knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and (G)throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat (H)the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, (I)great is your faith! (J)Be it done for you as you desire.” (K)And her daughter was (L)healed instantly.[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 15:28 Greek from that hour
Matthew 15:21-28
New International Version
Matthew 15:21-28
New International Version
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman(A)
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.(B) 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,(C) have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”(D)
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”(E)
25 The woman came and knelt before him.(F) “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!(G) Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.