Ecclesiastes 7:5

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3 ¹Sorrow is better than laughter,
^aFor by a sad countenance the heart is made¹ 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 ^aIt is better to¹ hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 ^aFor like the¹ crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
^aAnd a bribe¹ debases the heart.

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
^aThe patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 ^aDo not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,
And profitable ^ato those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is¹ a ^adefense as money is a defense,
But the¹ excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives ^blife to those who have it.

13 Consider the work of God;
For ^awho can make straight what He has made crooked?

14 ^aIn the day of prosperity be joyful,
But in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one¹ as well as the other,
So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity:
^aThere is a just man who perishes in his righteousness,
And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.

16 ^aDo not be overly righteous,
^bNor be overly wise:
Why should you destroy yourself?

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 7:5

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Ecclesiastes 7:6 >>

American Standard Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Amplified® Bible
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

Contemporary English Version
Harsh correction is better than the songs of a fool.

Darby English Version
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.

Good News Bible
It is better to have wise people reprimand you than to have stupid people sing your praises.

King James Version
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

New American Standard Bible
It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to the song of fools.

New International Version
It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
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.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
It seems wiser to listen to the rebuke of a wise man Than for one to listen to 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.

Young's Literal Translation
Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than `for' a man to hear a song of fools,

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Ecclesiastes 7:6 >>

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