Ecclesiastes 7:1–6
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Good Advice About How to Live
7A good name is better than fine perfume.
People can learn more from sobbing when someone dies
than from being happy when someone is born.
2So 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.
3Sadness is good for the heart.
That’s why sorrow is better than laughter.
4Those who are wise are found where there is sorrow.
But foolish people are found where there is pleasure.
5Pay attention to a wise man’s warning.
That’s better than listening to the songs of those who are foolish.
6A foolish person’s laughter
is like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot.
That doesn’t have any meaning either.
Copyright 1998 International Bible Society
In other versions
ESVEnglish Standard Version
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
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 lay it to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
for 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.
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
so is the laughter of the fools;
this also is vanity.
Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles
NIVNew International Version (2011)
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
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.
It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
so is the laughter of fools.
This too is meaningless.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.
CSBChristian Standard Bible
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.
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.
It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools,
for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot,
so is the laughter of the fool.
This too is futile.
Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
NLTNew Living Translation
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
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.
Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
LEBThe Lexham English Bible
A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.
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.
Better to listen to the rebuke of the wise
than for a man to listen to the song of fools.
Like the sound of thorns under a pot,
so also the laughter of fools.
This also is vanity!
Copyright 2012 Lexham Press
KJV 1900King James Version
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. 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. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
Public Domain