OET interlinear ECC 7:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

אֵ֔בֶל

mourning

See how you translated the similar expression in 7:2.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

שִׂמְחָֽה

pleasure

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of joy, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [celebrating]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְ⁠לֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּ⁠בֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה

heart_of wise in=house_of mourning and_[the],heart_of fools in=house_of pleasure

Solomon uses the word but here to indicate a contrast between where the heart of wise people is and where the heart of fools is. In your translation, indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Although the heart of wise people is in a house of mourning, the heart of fools is in a house of joy]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל

heart_of wise in=house_of mourning

Here Solomon is speaking as if the thoughts and attention of wise people were a heart that could be located in a place of mourning. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Wise people direct their attention toward a house of mourning]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠לֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּ⁠בֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה

and_[the],heart_of fools in=house_of pleasure

Here Solomon is speaking as if the thoughts and attention of fools were a heart that could be located in a place of joy. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [but the thoughts of fools are on celebrations]