Ecclesiastes 7:7–19

7 Surely loppression mmaketh a wise man mad; and na gift destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is othe end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and pthe patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 qBe not hasty in thy spirit pto be angry: for anger rresteth 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. 11 Wisdom is ||good with an inheritance: and by it there is sprofit tto them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a †defence, and money is a †defence: but the uexcellency of knowledge is, that wisdom wgiveth life to xthem that have it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can ymake that straight, which he hath yzmade crooked? 14 aIn the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath †set the one over against the other, bto the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: cthere is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth dhis life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; eneither make thyself fover wise: why shouldest thou †destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: gwhy shouldest thou die †before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of hthis; yea, also from ithis kwithdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 19 lWisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mmighty men which are in the city.