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Ecclesiastes 7:4

GriefWisdomDeath and loss

2 It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
KJV
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
WEB
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
ASV
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
DARBY
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
BLB
The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning, and the heart of fools [is] in a house of gladness.
ÅB
De vises hjerte er i sorgens hus, men dårenes hjerte i gledens hus.
OTB
De vises hjerte er i sørgehuset, mens dårers hjerte er i lysthuset.
B1930
De vises hjerte er i sorgens hus, men dårenes hjerte i gledens hus.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 8:14–16

    When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.

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  • Luke 7:12–13

    As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 25:36

    When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

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  • Nehemiah 2:2–5

    so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear

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  • Jeremiah 51:39

    While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.

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  • Isaiah 53:3–4

    He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

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  • Jeremiah 51:57

    I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

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  • Mark 5:38–43

    When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.

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