Ecclésiaste 7:9

9 Ne te hâte point dans ton esprit de t'irriter; car l'irritation repose dans le sein des insensés.

Ecclésiaste 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.

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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.

Ecclésiaste 7:9 In-Context

7 Certainement l'oppression peut faire perdre le sens au sage; et le présent corrompt le cœur.

8 Mieux vaut la fin d'une chose que son commencement; mieux vaut un esprit patient qu'un esprit hautain.

9 Ne te hâte point dans ton esprit de t'irriter; car l'irritation repose dans le sein des insensés.

10 Ne dis point: D'où vient que les jours passés étaient meilleurs que ceux-ci? Car ce n'est point par sagesse que tu t'enquiers de cela.

11 La sagesse est aussi bonne qu'un héritage; elle est un avantage pour ceux qui voient le soleil.