Ecclesiastes 7:8-20

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

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

¹⁰Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.

¹¹Wisdom is good with an inheritance, yea, a profit to them that see the sun.

¹²For 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.

¹³Consider the work of God; for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?

¹⁴In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

¹⁵All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.

¹⁶Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

¹⁷Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

¹⁸It is good that thou shouldest take hold of the one; yea, also from the other withdraw not thy hand; for he that feareth God shall discharge himself of them all.

¹⁹Wisdom is a stronghold to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.

²⁰For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.