Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
2 It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
- KJV
- A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
- WEB
- A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
- ASV
- A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one`s birth.
- DARBY
- A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
- BLB
- A good name [is finer] than good ointment, and the day of [one’s] death than the day he was born.
- ÅB
- Bedre er et godt navn enn god olje, og bedre dødsdagen enn den dag en blir født.
- OTB
- Et godt navn er mer ønskelig enn fin olje, og dødsdagen er bedre enn fødselsdagen.
- B1930
- Bedre er et godt navn enn god olje, og bedre dødsdagen enn den dag en blir født.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”
Read in contextProverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 4:2
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Read in contextPhilippians 1:21–23
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Read in contextSong of Solomon 1:3
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
Read in contextProverbs 27:9
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Read in context