Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
New International Version
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(A) is the destiny(B) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(C)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(D)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(E) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(F) under the pot,
so is the laughter(G) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
King James Version
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
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Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
New King James Version
2 Better to go to the house of mourning
Than to go to the house of feasting,
For that is the end of all men;
And the living will take it to (A)heart.
3 [a]Sorrow is better than laughter,
(B)For by a sad countenance the heart is made [b]better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 (C)It is better to [c]hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6 (D)For like the [d]crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:3 Vexation or Grief
- Ecclesiastes 7:3 well or pleasing
- Ecclesiastes 7:5 listen to
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 Lit. sound
Ecclesiastes 7:2-6
English Standard Version
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will (A)lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
(B)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is (C)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
6 (D)For as the crackling of (E)thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.[a]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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