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 face the heart becometh better.

4 The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

5 Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man, Than [for] a man to hear a song of fools,

6 For as the noise of thorns under the pot, So [is] the laughter of a fool, even this [is] vanity.

7 Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Better [is] the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better [is] the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.

10 Say not thou, `What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

11 Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance, And an advantage [it is] to those beholding the sun.

12 For wisdom [is] a defense, money [is] a defence, And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is], She reviveth her possessors.

13 See the work of God, For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

14 In a day of prosperity be in gladness, And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made, To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.

15 The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness, and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong.

16 Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

17 Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

18 [It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

19 The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man, more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

20 Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

21 Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

22 For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

23 All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said, `I am wise,' and it [is] far from me.

24 Far off [is] that which hath been, and deep, deep, who doth find it?

25 I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.

26 And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart [is] nets and snares, her hands [are] bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.

27 See, this I have found, said the Preacher, one to one, to find out the reason

28 (that still my soul had sought, and I had not found), One man, a teacher, I have found, and a woman among all these I have not found.

29 See, this alone I have found, that God made man upright, and they -- they have sought out many devices.

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