Ecclesiastes 7:9

9 Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry
With men, for every word that is said, or action done, that is not agreeable; encourage not, but repress, sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick of resentment, and at once express anger and displeasure; but be slow to wrath, for such a man is better than the mighty, ( James 1:19 ) ( Proverbs 16:32 ) ; or with God, for his corrections and chastisements; so the Targum,

``in the time that correction from heaven comes upon thee, do not hasten in thy soul to be hot (or angry) to say words of rebellion (or stubbornness) against heaven;''

that advice is good,

``do nothing in anger ^F12;''

for anger resteth in the bosom of fools;
where it riseth quick, and continues long; here it soon betrays itself, and finds easy admittance, and a resting dwelling place; it easily gets in, but it is difficult to get it out of the heart of a fool; both which are proofs of his folly, ( Proverbs 12:16 ) ( 14:17 ) ; see ( Ephesians 4:26 ) ; the bosom, or breast, is commonly represented as the seat of anger by other writers ^F13.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F12 Isocrates ad Nicoclem, p. 36.
F13 "In pectoribus ira considit", Petronius; "iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordis", Claudian. de 4. Consul. Honor. Panegyr. v. 241.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 In-Context

7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 Knowledge is good with an inheritance and is the excellency of those that see the sun.