EC-7: 2 [It is] better 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 lay [it] to his heart. EC-7: 3 Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. EC-7: 4 The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth. EC-7: 5 [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. EC-7: 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity. EC-7: 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. EC-7: 8 Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit. EC-7: 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. EC-7: 10 Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. EC-7: 11 Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun. EC-7: 12 For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it. EC-7: 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked? EC-7: 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. EC-7: 15 All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his life] in his wickedness. EC-7: 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? EC-7: 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?