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45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;

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The True Wealth

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
    and her revenue better than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)

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26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

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The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field,(A)

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18 Riches and honor are with me,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(A)
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than choice silver.(B)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    along the paths of justice,

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18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;
    the price of wisdom is above pearls.(A)

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10 Take my instruction instead of silver
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,(A)
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.(B)

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But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business,

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13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for that is the whole duty of everyone.(A)

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    Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
    they heap up and do not know who will gather.(A)

“And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?
    My hope is in you.(B)

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There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
    Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”(A)
You have put gladness in my heart
    more than when their grain and wine abound.(B)

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Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity.

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I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”(A) I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;(B) I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.(C) I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, many concubines.[a](D)

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.(E) 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure from all my toil, and this was my reward from all my toil.(F) 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.(G)

Wisdom and Joy Given to One Who Pleases God

12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly, for what can the king’s successor do? Only what has already been done.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.8 Meaning of Heb uncertain