Ecclesiastes 7:2
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
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 his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- 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 his heart.
- WEB
- 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 should take this to heart.
- ASV
- 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 his heart.
- DARBY
- It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
- BLB
- Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for this [is] the end of all men, and the one living will give [it] to his heart.
- ÅB
- Bedre er det å gå til sørgehus enn til gjestebudshus, fordi i sørgehuset ender hvert menneskes liv, og den som lever, legger seg det på hjerte.
- OTB
- Det er bedre å gå til et sørgehus enn til et gjestebud, for døden er alles skjebne, og de levende bør ta dette til hjertet.
- B1930
- Bedre er det å gå til sørgehus enn til gjestebudshus, fordi i sørgehuset ender hvert menneskes liv, og den som lever, legger sig det på hjerte.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Read in contextHebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Read in contextDeuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Read in contextDeuteronomy 32:46
And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
Read in contextPhilippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Read in context1 Peter 4:3–4
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Read in contextHaggai 1:5
Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Read in contextAmos 6:3–6
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
Read in context