Pensamiento judío sobre Eclesiastés 7:4

And the wise man said: "the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning" (Koheles 7:4), and "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart" (Koheles 7:2), the intent of "the living" is he whose heart is living, namely, one who understands and realizes. It is also written: "Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away" (Tehilim 144:4).

If the motive is a pious one, proceeding from a longing for nearer and closer communion with G-d by asceticism, it is laudable and will be rewarded, as the sage said, "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking" (Koheles 7:4).

Among them what is written: "For to the man that is good in His sight He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy [but to the sinner He has given an occupation to gather and to accumulate]"(Koheles 2:26), and it says: "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking" (Koheles 7:4).
"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: [for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart]" (Koheles 7:2), and it says: "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, [whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep]" (Koheles 5:11), and "for childhood and youth are vanity" (Koheles 11:10), and "The end of the matter, all having been heard: fear G-d, and keep His commandments; for this is all of man" (Koheles 12:13).