Lectionary Calendar
Friday, May 23rd, 2025
the Fifth Week after Easter
the Fifth Week after Easter
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Hebrew Names Version
Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
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Christian Standard Bible®
The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning,but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.
The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning,but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.
King James Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
English Standard Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
New American Standard Bible
The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
New Century Version
A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
Amplified Bible
The heart of the wise [learns when it] is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is [senseless] in the house of pleasure.
The heart of the wise [learns when it] is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is [senseless] in the house of pleasure.
World English Bible
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
Legacy Standard Bible
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,While the heart of fools is in the house of gladness.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,While the heart of fools is in the house of gladness.
Berean Standard Bible
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Contemporary English Version
A sensible person mourns, but fools always laugh.
A sensible person mourns, but fools always laugh.
Complete Jewish Bible
The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.
The thoughts of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the thoughts of fools are in the house of pleasure.
Darby Translation
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
Easy-to-Read Version
A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
George Lamsa Translation
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Good News Translation
Someone who is always thinking about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death.
Someone who is always thinking about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death.
Lexham English Bible
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Literal Translation
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of the stupid one is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of the stupid one is in the house of mirth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The herte of ye wyse is in the mournynge house, but the hert of the foolish is in the house of myrth.
The herte of ye wyse is in the mournynge house, but the hert of the foolish is in the house of myrth.
American Standard Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Bible in Basic English
The hearts of the wise are in the house of weeping; but the hearts of the foolish are in the house of joy.
The hearts of the wise are in the house of weeping; but the hearts of the foolish are in the house of joy.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
King James Version (1611)
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The heart of the wise is in the mourning house: but the heart of the foolishe is in the house of myrth.
The heart of the wise is in the mourning house: but the heart of the foolishe is in the house of myrth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.
English Revised Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The herte of wise men is where sorewe is; and the herte of foolis is where gladnesse is.
The herte of wise men is where sorewe is; and the herte of foolis is where gladnesse is.
Update Bible Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Webster's Bible Translation
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.
New English Translation
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.
New King James Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
New Living Translation
A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
New Life Bible
The heart of the wise is in the house of sorrow, while the heart of fools is in the house where there is fun.
The heart of the wise is in the house of sorrow, while the heart of fools is in the house where there is fun.
New Revised Standard
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise, is in the house of mourning, but, the heart of dullards, in the house of mirth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(7-5) The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
(7-5) The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.
Revised Standard Version
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Young's Literal Translation
The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.
The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.
THE MESSAGE
Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.
Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Contextual Overview
1 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one's birth. 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 should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good. 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.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
heart: Nehemiah 2:2-5, Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:14-16, Mark 5:38-43, Luke 7:12, Luke 7:13, John 11:31-35
the heart: 1 Samuel 25:36, 1 Samuel 30:16, 2 Samuel 13:28, 1 Kings 20:16, Isaiah 21:4, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Daniel 5:1-4, Daniel 5:30, Hosea 7:5, Nahum 1:10, Mark 6:21-29
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:41 - as they
Cross-References
Genesis 2:5
No plant of the field was yet in the eretz, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the eretz. There was not a man to till the ground,
No plant of the field was yet in the eretz, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the eretz. There was not a man to till the ground,
Genesis 6:3
The LORD said, "My spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years."
The LORD said, "My spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years."
Genesis 6:7
The LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
The LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:13
God said to Noach, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the eretz is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the eretz.
God said to Noach, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the eretz is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the eretz.
Genesis 6:17
I, even, I do bring the flood of waters on this eretz, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the eretz will die.
I, even, I do bring the flood of waters on this eretz, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the eretz will die.
Genesis 7:10
It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the eretz.
It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the eretz.
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noach's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky's windows were opened.
In the six hundredth year of Noach's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky's windows were opened.
Genesis 7:12
The rain was on the eretz forty days and forty nights.
The rain was on the eretz forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:17
The flood was forty days on the eretz. The waters increased, and lifted up the teivah, and it was lifted up above the eretz.
The flood was forty days on the eretz. The waters increased, and lifted up the teivah, and it was lifted up above the eretz.
Genesis 7:21
All flesh died that moved on the eretz, including birds, cattle, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the eretz, and every man.
All flesh died that moved on the eretz, including birds, cattle, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the eretz, and every man.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning,.... When his body is not; when it does not suit him to go thither in person, his mind is there, and his thoughts are employed on the useful subjects of the frailty and mortality of human nature, of death, a future judgment, and a world to come; which shows him to be a wise man, and concerned for the best things, even for his eternal happiness in another state;
but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth; where jovial company is, merry songs are sung, and the cup or glass passes briskly round, and all is gay and brilliant: here the fool desires to be oftener than he is, and when he cannot; which shows the folly of his mind, what a vain taste he has, and how thoughtless he is of a future state, and of his eternal welfare.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
House of mourning ... house of mirth - These phrases acquire a forcible significance from the Eastern custom of prolonging both festive and mournful celebrations through several days. See Genesis 50:10; Judges 14:17. This verse indicates that a life of enjoyment, does not mean the abandonment of ourselves to pleasures, but the thankful and sober use of the beautiful things which God gives us.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 7:4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning — A wise man loves those occasions from which he can derive spiritual advantage; and therefore prefers visiting the sick, and sympathizing with those who have suffered privations by death. But the fool - the gay, thoughtless, and giddy - prefers places and times of diversion and amusement. Here he is prevented from seriously considering either himself or his latter end. The grand fault and misfortune of youth.
