"{It is} better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." — Ecclesiastes 7:5

Ecclesiastes 7:5 · KJV

“{It is} better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”

— Ecclesiastes 7:5

The heart of the wise {is} in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools {is} in the house of mirth.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so {is} the laughter of the fool: this also {is} vanity. {crackling: Heb. sound}

Ecclesiastes 7 — Context

Sorrow {is} better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. {Sorrow: or, Anger}

The heart of the wise {is} in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools {is} in the house of mirth.

{It is} better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so {is} the laughter of the fool: this also {is} vanity. {crackling: Heb. sound}

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Cross References

Proverbs 15:31-32

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Psalms 141:5

Let the righteous smite me; {it shall be} a kindness: and let him reprove me; {it shall be} an excellent oil, {which} shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also {shall be} in their calamities. {me; it shall be a...: or, me kindly, and reprove me; let not their precious oil break, etc}

Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Proverbs 9:8

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Proverbs 17:10

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. {entereth...: or, aweth more a wise man, than to strike a fool an hundred times}

Proverbs 13:18

Poverty and shame {shall be to} him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Proverbs 27:6

Faithful {are} the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy {are} deceitful. {deceitful: or, earnest, or, frequent}

Proverbs 13:13

Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. {shall be rewarded: or, shall be in peace}