Ecclesiastes 7:5

5 Better to listen to [the] rebuke of [the] wise than for a man to listen to [the] song of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:5

[It is] better to hear the rebuke of the wise
To listen to it diligently, receive it cordially, and act according to it; though it may be disagreeable to the flesh, and give present pain, yet the effect and issue will be good, and show that man to be wise that hears it, as well as he that gives it; see ( Psalms 141:1 ) ( Proverbs 15:31 Proverbs 15:32 ) ( 17:10 ) ; than for a man to hear the song of fools;
the vain and impure songs that foolish men sing in the house of mirth; or the flatteries of foolish men, which tickle and please the mind, as music and songs do: or, "than a man that hears the song of fools" ^F9, and is pleased with it.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Mylyok ryv emv vyam) "quam vir audiens canticum stultorum", Montanus, Mercerus; "prae viro audiente canticum stultorum", Rambachius.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 In-Context

3 Sorrow [is] better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.

4 The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

5 Better to listen to [the] rebuke of [the] wise than for a man to listen to [the] song of fools.

6 Like the sound of thorns under a pot, so also the laughter of fools. This also [is] vanity!

7 Surely oppression makes a fool of the wise, and a bribe corrupts the heart.