I (A)said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

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13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and (A)the end of joy may be (B)grief.

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(A)so as to live for (B)the rest of the time in the flesh (C)no longer for human passions but (D)for the will of God. For the time that is past (E)suffices (F)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of (G)debauchery, and (H)they malign you;

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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.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
    (B)for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is (C)better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
    than to hear the song of fools.
(D)For as the crackling of (E)thorns under a pot,
    so is the laughter of the fools;
    this also is vanity.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:6 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)

(A)O you who put far away the day of disaster
    (B)and bring near the seat of violence?

“Woe to those (C)who lie on (D)beds of ivory
    (E)and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
    (F)and calves from the midst of the stall,
(G)who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
    and like David (H)invent for themselves instruments of music,
(I)who drink wine in bowls
    and (J)anoint themselves with the finest oils,
    but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

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12 In that day (A)the Lord God of hosts
    called for weeping and mourning,
    for (B)baldness and (C)wearing sackcloth;
13 and behold, joy and gladness,
    killing oxen and slaughtering sheep,
    eating flesh and drinking wine.
(D)“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”

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