Ecclesiastes 7:1
What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun?
Douay-Rheims 1899
In The King James Version
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
In Context
2A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
Cross References
Ruth 3:14So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that thou camest hither.
Psalms 133:2How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob:
Proverbs 22:1A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
Proverbs 27:9Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.
Ecclesiastes 10:1Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Song of Solomon 4:10How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:1
Solomon had given many proofs and instances of the vanity of this world and the things of it; now, in this chapter, I. He recommends to us some good means proper to be used for the redress of these grievances and the arming of ourselves against the mischief we are in danger of from them, that we may make the best of the bad, as 1. Care of our reputation, ver. 1 . 2. Seriousness, ver. 2-6 . 3. Calmness of spirit, ver. 7-10 . 4. Prudence in the management of all our affairs, ver. 11, 12 . 5. Submission to the will… Read the whole commentary →