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Thursday, May 15th, 2025
the Fourth Week after Easter
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Read the Bible
New Century Version
Ecclesiastes 7:4
A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time.
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- EveryParallel Translations
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.
Hebrew Names 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.
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.
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 It is better to have respect than good perfume. The day of death is better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to a funeral than to a party. We all must die, and everyone living should think about this. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, and sadness has a good influence on you. 4 A wise person thinks about death, but a fool thinks only about having a good time. 5 It is better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. 6 The laughter of fools is like the crackling of thorns in a cooking fire. Both are useless.
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
there were still no plants on the earth. Nothing was growing in the fields because the Lord God had not yet made it rain on the land. And there was no person to care for the ground,
there were still no plants on the earth. Nothing was growing in the fields because the Lord God had not yet made it rain on the land. And there was no person to care for the ground,
Genesis 6:3
The Lord said, "My Spirit will not remain in human beings forever, because they are flesh. They will live only 120 years."
The Lord said, "My Spirit will not remain in human beings forever, because they are flesh. They will live only 120 years."
Genesis 6:7
So the Lord said, "I will destroy all human beings that I made on the earth. And I will destroy every animal and everything that crawls on the earth and the birds of the air, because I am sorry I have made them."
So the Lord said, "I will destroy all human beings that I made on the earth. And I will destroy every animal and everything that crawls on the earth and the birds of the air, because I am sorry I have made them."
Genesis 6:13
he said to Noah, "Because people have made the earth full of violence, I will destroy all of them from the earth.
he said to Noah, "Because people have made the earth full of violence, I will destroy all of them from the earth.
Genesis 6:17
I will bring a flood of water on the earth to destroy all living things that live under the sky, including everything that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will die.
I will bring a flood of water on the earth to destroy all living things that live under the sky, including everything that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will die.
Genesis 7:10
Seven days later the flood started.
Seven days later the flood started.
Genesis 7:11
When Noah was six hundred years old, the flood started. On the seventeenth day of the second month of that year the underground springs split open, and the clouds in the sky poured out rain.
When Noah was six hundred years old, the flood started. On the seventeenth day of the second month of that year the underground springs split open, and the clouds in the sky poured out rain.
Genesis 7:12
The rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights.
The rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:17
Water flooded the earth for forty days, and as it rose it lifted the boat off the ground.
Water flooded the earth for forty days, and as it rose it lifted the boat off the ground.
Genesis 7:21
All living things that moved on the earth died. This included all the birds, tame animals, wild animals, and creatures that swarm on the earth, as well as all human beings.
All living things that moved on the earth died. This included all the birds, tame animals, wild animals, and creatures that swarm on the earth, as well as all human beings.
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.
