Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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The NET Bible®
Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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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.
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 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 reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. 5 It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is 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
Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.
Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.
Genesis 6:3
So the Lord said, "My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years."
So the Lord said, "My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years."
Genesis 6:7
So the Lord said, "I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—everything from humankind to animals, including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them."
So the Lord said, "I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—everything from humankind to animals, including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them."
Genesis 6:13
So God said to Noah, "I have decided that all living creatures must die, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now I am about to destroy them and the earth.
So God said to Noah, "I have decided that all living creatures must die, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now I am about to destroy them and the earth.
Genesis 6:17
I am about to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy from under the sky all the living creatures that have the breath of life in them. Everything that is on the earth will die,
I am about to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy from under the sky all the living creatures that have the breath of life in them. Everything that is on the earth will die,
Genesis 7:10
And after seven days the floodwaters engulfed the earth.
And after seven days the floodwaters engulfed the earth.
Genesis 7:11
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month—on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month—on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
Genesis 7:12
And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Genesis 7:17
The flood engulfed the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark and raised it above the earth.
The flood engulfed the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark and raised it above the earth.
Genesis 7:21
And all living things that moved on the earth died, including the birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all humankind.
And all living things that moved on the earth died, including the birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all humankind.
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.
