Ecclesiastes 7:2
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 will lay it to his heart.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
In Context
1A [good] name is better than precious oil, and the day of death, than the day of birth.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Cross References
Genesis 49:2Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob, and hearken to Israel your father.
Numbers 23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
Deuteronomy 32:46And he said to them, Set your heart to all the words which I testify to you this day, which ye shall command your sons to observe to do, [even] all the words of this law.
Psalms 90:12So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
Isaiah 5:11Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, who tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!
Isaiah 47:7And thou said, I shall be mistress forever, so that thou did not lay these things to thy heart, nor remembered the latter end of it.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:2-7
The Value of a Good Name. 1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death 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 will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made 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 It is better to hear the rebuke of… Read the whole commentary →