Ecclesiastes 7:1-12 ▼

1 A good name is better than precious oil; And the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, Than to go to the house of feasting; For that is the end of all men, And the living will lay it to his heart.

3 Vexation is better than laughter; For by the sadness of the countenance the heart may be gladdened.

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

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

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; And a gift 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: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, Yea, a profit to 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.