Ecclesiastes 7:7–10

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,

for anger resides in the lap of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”

For it is not wise to ask such questions.

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

7 Extortion turns wise people into fools,

and bribes corrupt the heart.

8 Finishing is better than starting.

Patience is better than pride.

9 Control your temper,

for anger labels you a fool.

10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”

This is not wise.

7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,

And a bribe debases the heart.

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;

The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,

For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say,

“Why were the former days better than these?”

For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

7 Even wise people are fools

if they let money change their thinking.

8 It is better to finish something

than to start it.

It is better to be patient

than to be proud.

9 Don’t become angry quickly,

because getting angry is foolish.

10 Don’t ask, “Why was life better in the ‘good old days’?”

It is not wise to ask such questions.

7 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

7 Oppression can turn a wise person into a fool, and a bribe can corrupt the mind. 

8 The end of something is better than its beginning. It is better to be patient than arrogant. 

9 Don’t be quick to get angry, because anger is typical of fools. 10 Don’t ask, “Why were things better in the old days than they are now?” It isn’t wisdom that leads you to ask this! 

7 Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe destroys the mind.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.

9 Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,

for anger abides in the heart of fools.

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

since it is not wise of you to ask this.

7 Surely oppression makes the wise foolish,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning;

the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be quick to anger,

for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

7 Surely oppression makes a fool of the wise,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

better to be slow to anger than hot-headed.

9 Do not be quick in your spirit to anger,

for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

7 When a wise man takes wealth by force, he becomes foolish.

It is sinful to take money from people who want special favors.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning.

So it’s better to be patient than proud.

9 Don’t become angry quickly.

Anger lives in the hearts of foolish people.

10 Don’t say, “Why were things better in the good old days?”

It isn’t wise to ask that kind of question.

7 For oppression makes a wise man mad,

And a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,

For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.