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Thursday, January 30th, 2025
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Ecclesiastes 7:5

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song 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

English Standard Version
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than 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.
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.
Easy-to-Read Version
It is better to be criticized by the wise than praised by the foolish.
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.
American Standard Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Contemporary English Version
Harsh correction is better than the songs of a fool.
Complete Jewish Bible
It is better to hear the rebukes of the wise than to listen to the songs of fools.
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.
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.
Berean Standard Bible
It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
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.
New Century Version
It is better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
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 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.
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.
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.
King James Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is better to geue eare to the chastening of a wyse man, then to heare the songue of fooles:
Darby Translation
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than 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;
Young's Literal Translation
Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than [for] a man to hear a song of fools,
World English Bible
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song 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.
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.
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.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is better to geue eare to the chastenynge of a wyse man, then to heare the songe of fooles.
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.
Legacy Standard Bible
Better to listen to the rebuke of a wise manThan for one to listen to the song of fools.

Contextual Overview

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth; 2 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 will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad 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. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like 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

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
Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
Exodus 39:32
Exodus 35:10-19">[xr] Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did.
Exodus 40:16
Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did.
Psalms 119:6
Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.
Matthew 3:15
But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
Luke 8:21
But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
John 13:17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Hebrews 5:8
though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

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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