Ecclesiastes 7:4
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
Darby Translation
In The 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.
In Context
3Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
Cross References
1 Samuel 25:36And Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was drunken to excess; so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
2 Samuel 13:28And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then slay him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
Nehemiah 2:2And the king said to me, Why is thy face sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sadness of heart. And I was very sore afraid.
Isaiah 53:3He is despised and left alone of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and like one from whom [men] hide their faces; despised, and we esteemed him not.
Jeremiah 51:57And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her governors, and her rulers, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.
Daniel 5:30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:2-7
The Value of a Good Name. 1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is 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 lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the 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… Read the whole commentary →