Ecclesiastes 7:1-12 ▼

1 A good name is above good oil, and the day of death above the day of birth.

2 Good to go to the house of mourning rather than to go to the house of drinking, in that it is the end of every man; and he living shall give to his heart.

3 Good is grief above laughter: for in the illness of the face the heart shall be good.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; and the heart of the foolish in the house of gladness.

5 Good to hear the reproof of the wise one, above a man hearing the song of the foolish:

6 For as the voice of thorns under the pot, so the laughter of the foolish one. Also this is vanity.

7 For oppression will make foolish the wise one; and a gift will destroy the heart.

8 Good the last of a word above its beginning: good slowness of spirit above pride of spirit.

9 Thou shalt not be hastened in thy spirit to be angry, for anger shall rest in the bosom of fools.

10 Thou shalt not say, Why was it the former days were good above these? for thou didst not ask from wisdom concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and a remainder to those seeing the sun.

12 For in the shadow, wisdom; in the shadow, silver: and the excellence of knowledge is wisdom shall preserve alive those possessing it.