Ecclesiastes 7:1

The Value of Practical Wisdom

1 A ^agood name is better than precious ointment,
And the day of death than the day of one’s ^bbirth;

2 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 ^aheart.

3 ¹Sorrow is better than laughter,
^aFor by a sad countenance the heart is made¹ better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 ^aIt is better to¹ hear the rebuke of the wise
Than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 ^aFor like the¹ crackling of thorns under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool.
This also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason,
^aAnd a bribe¹ debases the heart.

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning;
^aThe patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 7:1

<< Ecclesiastes 6:12

Ecclesiastes 7:2 >>

American Standard Version
A `good' name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.

Amplified® Bible
A GOOD name is better than precious perfume, and the day of death better than the day of one's birth.

Contemporary English Version
A good reputation at the time of death is better than loving care at the time of birth.

Darby English Version
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Good News Bible
A good reputation is better than expensive perfume; and the day you die is better than the day you are born.

King James Version
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

New American Standard Bible
A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of {one's} death is better than the day of one's birth.

New International Version
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.

New King James Version
A good name is better than precious ointment,
And the day of death than the day of one's birth;

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
A good name has more value than a good ointment, And the day of one's death seems better than the day of one's birth.

Revised Standard Version
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.

Young's Literal Translation
Better `is' a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.

New English Translation
A good reputation¹ is better² than precious³ perfume;⁴ likewise,⁵ the day of one’s⁶ death⁷ is better than the day of one’s birth.⁸

<< Ecclesiastes 6:12

Ecclesiastes 7:2 >>

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The Value of Practical Wisdom

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning