Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

New American Standard Bible

⁷ For ^(A)oppression makes a wise person look foolish,
And a ^(B)bribe ^[a]corrupts the heart.
⁸ The ^(C)end of a matter is better than its beginning;
^(D)Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.
⁹ Do not be ^[b](E)eager in your spirit to be angry,
For anger resides in the ^[c]heart of fools.
¹⁰ Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.