Ecclesiastes 7:10–14

10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”e

since it is not wise of you to ask this.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance

and an advantage to those who see the sun,

12 because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;

but the advantage of knowledge

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.f

13 Consider the work of God,g

for who can straighten out

what he has made crooked?h

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,i but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other,j so that no one can discover anything that will come after him.