Ecclesiastes 7:5

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב לִשְׁמֹעַ גַּעֲרַת חָכָם מֵאִישׁ שֹׁמֵעַ שִׁיר כְּסִילִים

Transliteration

Ṭôḇ lišmōaʿ gaʿăraṯ ḥāḵām from-ʾîš šōmēaʿ šîr kəsîlîm

Grammar Details

*Ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good/better
*lišmōaʿ*: Qal infinitive construct with preposition - to hear
*gaʿăraṯ*: noun, feminine singular construct - rebuke of
*ḥāḵām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise person
*ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
*šōmēaʿ*: Qal participle, masculine singular - hearing/listening to
*šîr*: noun, masculine singular construct - song of
*kəsîlîm*: adjective, masculine plural - fools

Word Meanings

*Ṭôḇ*: better/more beneficial
*gaʿăraṯ*: rebuke/reproof/correction
*ḥāḵām*: wise person/sage
*šîr* *kəsîlîm*: song of fools/frivolous singing

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 141:5 : 5 Let the righteous smite me, [it shall be] a kindness; And let him reprove me, [it shall be as] oil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it: For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.
Prov 15:31-32 : 31 The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise. 32 He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.
Prov 13:18 : 18 Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
Ps 69:12 : 12 They that sit in the gate talk of me; And [I am] the song of the drunkards.
Prov 9:8 : 8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Prov 13:13 : 13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Prov 17:10 : 10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Prov 27:6 : 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
Rev 3:19 : 19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Eccl 7:2-4
3 verses
85%
2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Eccl 7:6
81%
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Eccl 9:16-17
2 verses
80%
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
17The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Prov 15:31-32
2 verses
78%
31The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.
32He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.
Prov 17:10
78%
10A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Prov 15:5
78%
5A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.
Prov 1:5
77%
5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
Prov 12:15
76%
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
Eccl 4:13
76%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Prov 26:4-5
2 verses
76%
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Prov 14:7-8
2 verses
76%
7Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
Prov 23:9
75%
9Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Prov 10:8
75%
8The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 14:33
75%
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
Prov 8:5
75%
5O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
Prov 15:14
75%
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
Eccl 5:1
75%
1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.
Prov 19:1
74%
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Prov 15:7
74%
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.
Prov 13:1
74%
1A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
Eccl 7:9-10
2 verses
74%
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
Prov 25:12
74%
12[ As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Prov 15:2
74%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 29:11
74%
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
Prov 27:5
74%
5Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
Prov 24:7
74%
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Prov 1:7
73%
7The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 15:21
73%
21Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Prov 16:22
73%
22Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly.
Prov 14:3
73%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Prov 29:9
73%
9If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
Prov 12:23
73%
23A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Prov 9:7
73%
7He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.
Prov 13:16
73%
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
Prov 14:24
73%
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
Prov 10:14
73%
14Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
Prov 10:23
73%
23It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.
Prov 17:24
73%
24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Prov 17:16
73%
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Prov 19:20
72%
20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Prov 19:10
72%
10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Prov 18:15
72%
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Prov 14:16
72%
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.