Weddings and Funerals

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"Weddings and Funerals" is a nursery rhyme or folksong and playground game.

A wedding song we played for you,
The dance you did but scorn.
A woeful dirge we chanted, too,
But then you would not mourn.

Origin

The verse is based on the verses Matthew 11:17 and Luke 7:32 in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

The exact words of this English nursery rhyme were incorporated as the translation of these verses in the International Standard Version (2008). [1]

In context, the verse was spoken by Jesus as a reproach to those people who rejected both the austere lifestyle and preaching of John the Baptist and his own more accessible ministry. [2]

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References

  1. Matthew 11:17, parallel translations at Biblos.com
  2. Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 11:16-24, available online at BibleCommenter.com