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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better to hear the rebukes of the wise than to listen to the songs of fools.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Reproof;   Thompson Chain Reference - Commendation-Reproof;   Reproof;   The Topic Concordance - Foolishness;   Rebuke;   Vanity;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Reproof;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pots;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom literature;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Poetry;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   Fool;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - ḥazzan;   Homiletics;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for September 2;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise personthan to listen to the song of fools,
Hebrew Names Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
King James Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
English Standard Version
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
New American Standard Bible
It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise person Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
New Century Version
It is better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
Amplified Bible
It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise man and pursue wisdom Than for one to listen to the song of fools and pursue stupidity.
World English Bible
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Better it is to heare ye rebuke of a wise man, then that a man should heare the song of fooles.
Legacy Standard Bible
Better to listen to the rebuke of a wise manThan for one to listen to the song of fools.
Berean Standard Bible
It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
Contemporary English Version
Harsh correction is better than the songs of a fool.
Darby Translation
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
Easy-to-Read Version
It is better to be criticized by the wise than praised by the foolish.
George Lamsa Translation
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
Good News Translation
It is better to have wise people reprimand you than to have stupid people sing your praises.
Lexham English Bible
Better to listen to the rebuke of the wise than for a man to listen to the song of fools.
Literal Translation
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is better to geue eare to the chastenynge of a wyse man, then to heare the songe of fooles.
American Standard Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Bible in Basic English
It is better to take note of the protest of the wise, than for a man to give ear to the song of the foolish.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
King James Version (1611)
It is better to heare the rebuke of the wise, then for a man to heare the song of fooles.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is better to geue eare to the chastening of a wyse man, then to heare the songue of fooles:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
English Revised Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is betere to be repreued of a wijs man, than to be disseyued bi the flateryng of foolis;
Update Bible Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
New English Translation
It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.
New King James Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
New Living Translation
Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
New Life Bible
It is better to listen to the sharp words of a wise man than to listen to the song of fools.
New Revised Standard
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for any man to hear the song of dullards,
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-6) It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by the flattery of fools.
Revised Standard Version
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
Young's Literal Translation
Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than [for] a man to hear a song of fools,
THE MESSAGE
You'll get more from the rebuke of a sage Than from the song and dance of fools.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

Contextual Overview

1 A good name is better than perfumed oil, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2 Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart. 3 Grief is better than laughter, for sadness can improve a person. 4 The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to hear the rebukes of the wise than to listen to the songs of fools. 6 For the laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot; this too is pointless.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

better: Psalms 141:5, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 13:13, Proverbs 15:31, Proverbs 15:32, Proverbs 17:10, Proverbs 27:6, Revelation 3:19

the song: Psalms 69:12

Reciprocal: Proverbs 14:13 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 6:22
This is what Noach did; he did all that God ordered him to do.
Exodus 39:32
Thus all the work for the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was finished, with the people of Isra'el doing everything exactly as Adonai had ordered Moshe.
Exodus 40:16
Moshe did this — he acted in accordance with everything Adonai had ordered him to do.
Psalms 119:6
Then I will not be put to shame, since I will have fixed my sight on all your mitzvot.
Matthew 3:15
However, Yeshua answered him, "Let it be this way now, because we should do everything righteousness requires." Then Yochanan let him.
Luke 8:21
But he gave them this answer: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's message and act on it!"
John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Philippians 2:8
he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death — death on a stake as a criminal!
Hebrews 5:8
Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise,.... To listen to it diligently, receive it cordially, and act according to it; though it may be disagreeable to the flesh, and give present pain, yet the effect and issue will be good, and show that man to be wise that hears it, as well as he that gives it; see Psalms 141:1;

than for a man to hear the song of fools; the vain and impure songs that foolish men sing in the house of mirth; or the flatteries of foolish men, which tickle and please the mind, as music and songs do: or, "than a man that hears the song of fools" i, and is pleased with it.

i מאיש שמע שיר כסילים "quam vir audiens canticum stultorum", Montanus, Mercerus; "prae viro audiente canticum stultorum", Rambachius.


 
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