It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because [a]that is the (A)end of every man,
And the living [b](B)takes it to [c]heart.
(C)Sorrow is better than laughter,
For (D)when a face is sad a heart may be happy.
The [d]mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,
While the [e]mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:2 I.e. death
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit gives
  3. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Lit his heart
  4. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart
  5. Ecclesiastes 7:4 Lit heart

12 Therefore in that day the Lord [a]God of hosts called you to (A)weeping, to wailing,
To (B)shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.
13 Instead, there is (C)gaiety and gladness,
Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,
Eating of meat and drinking of wine:
(D)Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”
14 But the Lord of hosts revealed Himself [b]to me,
“Surely this (E)iniquity (F)shall not be [c]forgiven you
(G)Until you die,” says the Lord [d]God of hosts.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 22:12 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  2. Isaiah 22:14 Lit in my ears
  3. Isaiah 22:14 Lit atoned for
  4. Isaiah 22:14 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord

17 I (A)did not sit in the circle of merrymakers,
Nor did I exult.
Because of Your hand upon me I sat (B)alone,
For You (C)filled me with indignation.

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Those who recline on beds of ivory
And sprawl on their (A)couches,
And (B)eat lambs from the flock
And calves from the midst of the stall,
Who improvise to the sound of the harp,
And like David have [a]composed (C)songs for themselves,
Who (D)drink wine from [b]sacrificial bowls
While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils,
Yet they have not (E)grieved over the ruin of Joseph.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 6:5 Or invented musical instruments
  2. Amos 6:6 Lit sprinkling basins