Ecclesiastes 7:9

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth 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 maketh a wise man mad, and a bribe 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, "Why were the former days better than these?" For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.