Ecclesiastes 7:7-9

New Catholic Bible

⁷Oppression can make a wise man foolish
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The Refuge of Wisdom^[a]

⁸Better is the end of anything than its beginning;
better are the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.
⁹Do not become easily angered,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

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Footnotes

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Wisdom is a refuge for human beings. The present moment is God’s gift to humans; by living it correctly we get closer to God (see Rom 8:28-29).

Ecclesiastes 7:7-9

New International Version

⁷Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe^(A) corrupts the heart.

⁸The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience^(B) is better than pride.
⁹Do not be quickly provoked^(C) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.^(D)