Ecclesiastes 7:5-10

New King James Version

^5 (A)It is better to ^[a]hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
^6 (B)For like the ^[b]crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.
⁷ Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
^(C)And a bribe ^[c]debases the heart.

⁸ The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
^(D)The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
^9 (E)Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
¹⁰ Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.