Ecclesiastes 7:4-22

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

⁵It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

⁶As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

⁷For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

⁸The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

⁹Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

¹¹Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun.

¹²For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

¹³Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

¹⁴In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him.

¹⁵I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

¹⁶Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

¹⁷Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

¹⁸It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

¹⁹Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

²⁰For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin.

²¹Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.

²²For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.