Ecclesiastes 7:9
Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the patient man than the presumptuous.
Douay-Rheims 1899
In The King James Version
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
In Context
8Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
10Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool.
Cross References
Genesis 4:5But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was exceedingly angry, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 34:7Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter,
Genesis 34:30And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land: we are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house, shall be destroyed.
2 Samuel 13:22But Absalom spoke not to Amnon neither good nor evil: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had ravished his sister Thamar.
2 Samuel 13:32But Jonadab the son of Semmaa David's brother answering, said: Let not my lord the king think that all the king's sons are slain: Amnon only is dead, for he was appointed by the mouth of Absalom from the day that he ravished his sister Thamar.
Esther 3:5Now when Aman had heard this, and had proved by experience that Mardochai did not bend his knee to him, nor worship him, he was exceeding angry.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:8-11
Scenes of Mourning and of Joy. 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Solomon had often complained before of the oppressions which he saw under the… Read the whole commentary →