My God and My Country

The Book of Ecclesiastes

Chapter 7:1-14 

(Geneva Bible Translation)

1 Surely there be many things that increase vanity, and what availeth it a man?

2 For who knoweth what is good for man in the life, and in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he maketh them as a shadow? for who can show unto man what shall be after him under the sun?

3 A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of death, than the day that one is born.

4 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men: and the living shall lay it to his heart.

5 Anger is better than laughter: for by a sad look the heart is made better.

6 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

7 Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than that a man should hear the song of fools.

8 For like the noise of the thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

9 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the reward destroyeth the heart.

10 The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

11 Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

12 Say not thou, Why is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely of this thing. (a)

13 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sun.

14 For man shall rest in the shadow of wisdom, and in the shadow of silver: but the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life to the possessors thereof.

(a) Which of us has not thought or said the expression “the good old days”? We look back in retrospect so often, forgetting that there were also times of adversities mixed in with the good. While we might fondly reminisce on earlier times, (mostly as children), we were unaware that through both good and bad we gained wisdom. Perhaps it is that, that makes us long for those days. So often, I know I have said, I wish I could be as young as I was, but know what I know now.  God’s word tells us the past, is past, we, can remember, but cannot change on iota of it. Additionally His word instructs us to serve Him in the present, while keeping our eyes on the future, that is to say, joining Him in His heavenly kingdom when this race is run.