Wisdom and Folly Compared

1 A Good name is better then precious ointment: and the day of death, then the day of ones birth.

2 ¶ It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the liuing will lay it to his heart.

3 Sorrow is better then laughter: for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to heare the rebuke of the wise, then for a man to heare the song of fooles.

6 For as the crackling of thornes vnder a pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.

7 ¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Better is the ende of a thing then the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better then the proude in spirit.

9 Be not hastie in thy spirit to bee angry: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.

10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former dayes were better then these? For thou doest not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 ¶ Wisedome is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profite to them that see the sunne.

12 For wisedome is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellencie of knowledge is, that wisedome giueth life to them that haue it.

13 Consider the worke of God: for who can make that straight, which hee hath made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperitie be ioyfull, but in the day of aduersitie consider: God also hath set the one ouer against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Agere Sequitur Esse