Eccclesiastes 7 - Scottish Metrical Paraphrases 1781(MP1781)

SONG 148,6,8,6tune: Bristol, 38.Eccles 7:2-6

2-6 While others crowd the house of mirth,

and haunt the gaudy show,

Let such as would with Wisdom dwell,

frequent the house of woe.

2 Better to weep with those who weep,

and share th’ afflicted’s smart,

Than mix with fools in giddy joys

that cheat and wound the heart.

3 When virtuous sorrow clouds the face,

and tears bedim the eye,

The soul is led to solemn thought,

and wafted to the sky.

4 The wise in heart revisit oft

grief’s dark sequester’d cell;

The thoughtless still with levity

and mirth delight to dwell.

5 The noisy laughter of the fool

is like the crackling sound

Of blazing thorns, which quickly fall

in ashes to the ground.