Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

1A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;

2Better 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 take it to heart.

3Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

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

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

6For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

7Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.

8The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.

12For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

13Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?

14In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.