Ecclesiastes 7:3
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.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
5 It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.
- KJV
- Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
- WEB
- Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
- ASV
- Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
- DARBY
- Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
- BLB
- Better [is] sorrow than laughter, for by the sadness of the face, the heart is made good.
- ÅB
- Bedre er gremmelse enn latter; for mens ansiktet er sørgmodig, er hjertet vel til mote.
- OTB
- Sorg er bedre enn latter, for et trist ansikt kan føre til et lykkelig hjerte.
- B1930
- Bedre er gremmelse enn latter; for mens ansiktet er sørgmodig, er hjertet vel til mote.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 7:9–11
And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
Read in contextRomans 5:3–4
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Read in contextJames 4:8–10
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Read in contextJohn 16:20–22
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Read in contextHebrews 12:10–11
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
Read in context2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
Read in contextJeremiah 31:15–20
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Read in contextJames 1:2–4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Read in context