Ecclesiastes 7:4 cpdv — Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected."

— Ecclesiastes 7:4, Catholic Public Domain Version

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Ecclesiastes 7:4 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 7 — Context

1

Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?

2

A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.

3

It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.

4

Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.

5

The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.

6

It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.

7

For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 7:4 say?
Ecclesiastes 7:4 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 7:4 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 7:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 4.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 7:4.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 7:4 in?
Ecclesiastes 7:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 7:4?
Ecclesiastes 7:4 reads (CPDV): “Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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