Ecclesiastes 7 - Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)

7 ¶ A good name is better than precious ointment 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 whole.

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 hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

6 The laughter of the fool is as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is vanity.

7 ¶ Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a gift destroys the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Never say, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

11 ¶ Knowledge is good with an inheritance and is the excellency of those that see the sun.

12 For knowledge is a defence, and money is a defence; but wisdom excels in that it gives life to those that have it.

13 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight that which he has twisted?

14 In the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your eyes and learn: God also has made the one (the day of adversity) before the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his days by his wickedness.

16 Do not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise in thine own eyes: why should thou destroy thyself?

17 Do not be hasty to condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?

18 It is good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.

19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

20 For surely there is not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.

21 Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:

22 For thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.

23 ¶ All this I have proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

24 That which has been is far off and that which is exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25 I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;

26 and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.

27 Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, weighing things one by one to find out the answer,

28 which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.

29 Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.

You Might Also Like:

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 7 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Wisdom7 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.3 Frustration is better than laughter, because a...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 7 - New International Version (NIV)

Wisdom7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(A) and the day of death better than the day of birth.(B)2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,for death(C) is the destiny(D) of everyone; the living should take this to heart.3 Frustration is better than laughte...
Read More

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

Good Advice About How to Live7 A good name is better than fine perfume. People can learn more from mourning when someone dies than from being happy when someone is born.2 So it’s better to go where people are mourning than to go where people are having a good time.Everyone will die someday. Those wh...
Read More

Ecclesiastes 7 - New Century Version (NCV)

Some Benefits of Serious Thinking7 It is better to have respect than good perfume.The day of death is better than the day of birth.2 It is better to go to a funeral than to a party.We all must die, and everyone living should think about this.3 Sorrow is better than laughter, and sadness has a good i...
Read More