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.

9 ^aDo not hasten in your spirit to be angry,
For anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say,
“Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

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 >>