7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. 1
8:5 Whoever obeys his 2 command will not experience harm,
and a wise person 3 knows the proper time 4 and procedure.
1 sn The expression the house of merrymaking refers to a banquet where those who attend engage in self-indulgent feasting and riotous drinking.
2 tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.
3 tn Heb “the heart of a wise man.”
4 tn The term עֵת (’et, “time”) connotes “a proper, suitable time for an event; the right moment” (HALOT 900 s.v. עֵת 6; BDB 773 s.v. עֵת 2.b); e.g., “it was the time for rain” (Ezra 10:13); “a time of judgment for the nations” (Ezek 30:3); “there is an appropriate time for every occasion” (Eccl 3:1); “the time when mountain goats are born” (Job 39:1); “the rain in its season” (Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24); “the time for the harvest” (Hos 2:11; Ps 1:3); “food in its season” (Ps 104:27).