Ecclesiastes 7:6-8

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁶ for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot,^(A)
so is the laughter of the fool.
This too is futile.
⁷ Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,^(B)
and a bribe destroys the mind.^(C)
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.^(D)