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Ecclesiastes 7:2–4

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 mankind,

and the living will jlay it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

kfor by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

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Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — The New International Version (NIV)

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.

Frustration is better than laughter,

because a sad face is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.

After all, everyone dies—

so the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for sadness has a refining influence on us.

A wise person thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

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 take it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — New Century Version (NCV)

It is better to go to a funeral

than to a party.

We all must die,

and everyone living should think about this.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

and sadness has a good influence on you.

A wise person thinks about death,

but a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — American Standard Version (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. Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (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. Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

It is better to go to a funeral than to a banquet because that is where everyone will end up. Everyone who is alive should take this to heart! Sorrow is better than laughter because, in spite of a sad face, the heart can be joyful. The minds of wise people think about funerals, but the minds of fools think about banquets. 

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

It is better to go to a house of mourning

than to go to a house of feasting,

since that is the end of all mankind,

and the living should take it to heart.

Grief is better than laughter,

for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.

The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Better to go to the house of mourning

than to go to the house of feasting,

for death is the end of every person,

and the living should take it to his heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

So it’s better to go where people are sobbing

than to go where people are having a good time.

Everyone will die someday.

Those who are still living

should really think about that.

Sadness is good for the heart.

That’s why sorrow is better than laughter.

Those who are wise are found where there is sorrow.

But foolish people are found where there is pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

It is better to go to a house of mourning

Than to go to a house of feasting,

Because that is the end of every man,

And the living takes it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning,

While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.


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