New English Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:9
9Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:9
7Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart. 8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride. Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 10Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that. 11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:9 word by word
אַל־תְּבַהֵ֥ל בְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖ לִכְע֑וֹס כִּ֣י כַ֔עַס בְּחֵ֥יק כְּסִילִ֖ים יָנֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:9
- 1 Samuel 25:21Now David had been thinking, “In vain I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn’t take anything from him. But he has repaid my good with evil.
- 2 Samuel 19:43The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.
- Esther 3:5When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he was filled with rage.
- Proverbs 14:17A person who has a quick temper does foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes is hated.
- Proverbs 16:32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.
- Jonah 4:9God said to Jonah, “Are you really so very angry about the little plant?” And he said, “I am as angry as I could possibly be!”
- Ephesians 4:26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.
- James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
- Genesis 4:5but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast.
- Genesis 34:7Now Jacob’s sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob’s daughter, a crime that should not be committed.
- 2 Samuel 13:22But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either bad or good, yet Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.
- Proverbs 26:23Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
- Mark 6:19So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Anger resteth in the bosom of fools - A wise man, off his guard, may feel it for a moment: but in him it cannot rest: it is a fire which he immediately casts out of his breast. But the fool - the man who is under the dominion of his own tempers, harbors and fosters it, till it takes the form of malice, and then excites him to seek full revenge on those whom he deems enemies. Hence that class of dangerous and empty fools called duellists.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have more reason to cry…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9anger settles in the lap of a fool: Compare Proverbs 14:29 and 29:11. See the “Anger” Theme Note.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. angry--impatient at adversity befalling thee, as Job was (Ec 5:2; Pr 12:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries