Ecclesiastes 7:5
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.
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.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
- KJV
- It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- WEB
- It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- ASV
- It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- DARBY
- It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
- BLB
- Better to hear the rebuke of a wise one, than hearing a song of fools.
- ÅB
- Bedre er det å høre skjenn av en vis enn å høre sang av dårer;
- OTB
- Det er bedre å høre på de vises irettesettelse enn å lytte til dårers sang.
- B1930
- Bedre er det å høre skjenn av en vis enn å høre sang av dårer;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 15:31–32
The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
Read in contextPsalms 141:5
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Read in contextRevelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Read in contextProverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Read in contextProverbs 17:10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Read in contextProverbs 9:8
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Read in contextProverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Read in contextProverbs 13:13
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Read in context