Ecclesiastes 7:8-17

⁸Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.

⁹Be not rash in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in bosom of fools.

¹⁰Thou must not say, How was it that the former days were better than these? for it is not out of wisdom that thou askest concerning this.

¹¹Wisdom is better than an inheritance, yea, preferable for those that see the sun;

¹²For under the shadow of wisdom a man is equally well as under the shadow of money; but the superior excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to him that possesseth it.

¹³Consider then the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

¹⁴On the day of prosperity be happy, but on the day of adversity look on: also this hath God made in equal measure with the other, to the end that man should not find the least to censure him.

¹⁵All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is many a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is many a wicked man that liveth long in his wickedness.—

¹⁶Be not righteous over much; neither show thyself over wise: why wouldst thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷Be not wicked over much, and be no fool: why wouldst thou die before thy time?