It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- KJV It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- NKJV It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- NASB It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise person Than for one to listen to the song of fools.
- NLT Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Better to hear a wise person's rebuke than the flattering song of fools. It matters because honest correction builds us up, while empty praise leads astray.
Overview
The Preacher prizes the discomfort of wise rebuke over the pleasant noise of foolish flattery, echoing Proverbs' praise of correction (Proverbs 27:6). A teachable spirit receives reproof as a gift. This anticipates the New Testament call to welcome loving correction (Hebrews 12:11) and to speak truth in love within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 15:31–32He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- Ps 141:5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
- Rev 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Prov 13:18Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
- Prov 17:10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
- Prov 9:8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
- Prov 27:6The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
- Ps 69:12Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
- Prov 13:13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 7:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.