Ecclesiastes 7:7–12

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.

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing

and benefits those who see the sun.

12 Wisdom is a shelter

as money is a shelter,

but the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves those who have it.

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness,

and a bribe corrupts the heart.

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

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

9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,

for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

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

For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,

and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

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. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

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.

11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.

Both are a benefit as you go through life.

12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,

but only wisdom can save your life.

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.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,

And profitable to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense,

But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

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.

11 Wisdom is better when it comes with money.

They both help those who are alive.

12 Wisdom is like money:

they both help.

But wisdom is better,

because it can save whoever has it.

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.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.

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.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

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! 

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun. 12 Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it. 

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.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance

and an advantage to those who see the sun,

12 because wisdom is protection as money is protection,

and the advantage of knowledge

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

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.

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance,

an advantage to those who see the sun.

12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money,

and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.

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.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance;

it benefits the living.

12 For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection.

But knowledge has an advantage—wisdom restores life to its possessor.

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.

11 Wisdom is a good thing.

It’s like getting a share of the family wealth.

It benefits those who live on this earth.

12 Wisdom provides safety,

just as money provides safety.

But here’s the advantage of wisdom.

It guards the lives of those who have it.