Ecclesiastes 7:4

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 in Other Translations

KJV
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
ESV
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
NLT
4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
MSG
4 Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.
CSB
4 The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:4

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.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 In-Context

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face 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 pleasure.
5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Ecclesiastes 2:1; Jeremiah 16:8
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