Ecclesiastes 7 - American Standard Version (ASV)

7 A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one’s birth. 2 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 [a]glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. 7 [b]Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be [c]angry; for [d]anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire [e]wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom [f]is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything that shall be after him. 15 All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all. 19 Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city. 20 [g]Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also [h]take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; 22 for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 23 All this have I [i]proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which [j]is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out? 25 I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know [k]that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman [l]whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [m]laying one thing to another, to find out the account; 28 which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 7:3 Or, better
  2. Ecclesiastes 7:7 Or, For
  3. Ecclesiastes 7:9 Or, vexed
  4. Ecclesiastes 7:9 Or, vexation
  5. Ecclesiastes 7:10 Hebrew out of wisdom.
  6. Ecclesiastes 7:11 Or, is good together with an inheritance, and profitable unto them etc.
  7. Ecclesiastes 7:20 Or, For
  8. Ecclesiastes 7:21 Hebrew give not thy heart.
  9. Ecclesiastes 7:23 Or, tried by
  10. Ecclesiastes 7:24 Or, hath been
  11. Ecclesiastes 7:25 Or, the wickedness of folly, and foolishness which is madness
  12. Ecclesiastes 7:26 Or, who is a snare, and her heart is as nets
  13. Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the reason

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Ecclesiastes 7 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 Better [is] a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth. 2 Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth [it] unto his heart. 3 Better [is] sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

7 A good name is better than precious ointments (A good name, or a good reputation, is better than expensive perfume); and the day of death is better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of a feast; for in that house the end of all men is warned (of...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - World English Bible (WEB)

7 A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth. 2 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. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter; for by ...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - The Voice (VOICE)

7 Teacher: A good name is worth more than the finest perfume, and the day you die is better than the day you were born.2 In the same way, it is better to go to a funeral than a celebration. Why? because death is the end of life’s journey, and the living should always take that to heart.3 Sorrow be...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Lessons from Mourning7 Better is a good reputation than precious oiland the day of death than the day of birth.2 Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,since that is the end of all mankind—and the living should take it to heart.3 Grief is better than laughter, for th...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laught...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting;for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laugh...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

A Disillusioned View of Life7 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.(A)2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting,for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.(B)3 Sorrow is better than...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Wisdom for Life7 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born.2 Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart.3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness ha...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New Life Version (NLV)

Wisdom Is Worth a Lot7 A good name is better than oil of much worth. And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of sorrow than to go to a house of much eating. For this is the end of all men, and the living takes it to heart. 3 To have sorrow ...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Value of Practical Wisdom7 A (A)good name is better than precious ointment,And the day of death than the day of one’s (B)birth;2 Better to go to the house of mourningThan to go to the house of feasting,For that is the end of all men;And the living will take it to (C)heart.3 [a]Sorrow is better t...
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Ecclesiastes 7 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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Ecclesiastes 7 - New International Version (NIV)

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Ecclesiastes 7 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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