(3.) Good is vexation (the vexation of disappointment——see [chapter i. 18], references) above laughter; for in the evil (concrete, and therefore an evil or distortion) of the faces (plural, but פנים is so generally, as the face is double) is bettered (a pe. jud verb, with double jud) the heart. I think the equivoke here is, ‘the worse one looks, the better one gets.’
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
That heart of the wise which is in the house of the mourning, when the heart of the befooled is in the house of mirth.
(4.) The heart of wise ones (as ‘heart’ is repeated again, it gives the idea of ‘that heart’ spoken of before. This, however, as occurring in a new clause containing a fresh sentiment, must not be pressed too far) is in the house of mourning, and the heart of befooled ones in the house of rejoicing. This aphorism is very suggestive: the heart of the wise is improved in the house of sadness; fools, or rather befooled ones, who are mistaken with their own joy, are improved in the house of feasting, but it is an improvement in evil. This equivoke the rendering of the LXX. preserves.
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
(5.) Good is it to hear the rebuke of the wise, more than that any should hear the song of the befooled.