Wisdom and Foolishness Contrasted

A (A)good name is better than good [a]oil,
And the (B)day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because [b]that is the (C)end of every person,
And the living [c](D)takes it to [d]heart.
(E)Sorrow is better than laughter,
For (F)when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
The [e]mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the [f]mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.
It is better to (G)listen to the rebuke of a wise person
Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
For as the [g]crackling of (H)thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the (I)laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:1 I.e., olive oil
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:2 I.e., death
  3. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit gives
  4. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit his heart
  5. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
  6. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
  7. Ecclesiastes 7:6 Lit voice

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