Ecclesiastes 7:2

A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Douay-Rheims 1899

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

1What 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?

3It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Cross References

Genesis 49:2Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:

Numbers 23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob, and know the number of the stock of Israel? Let my soul die the death of the just, and my last end be like to them.

Deuteronomy 32:46And he said to them : Set your hearts on all the words, which I testify to you this day: which you shall command your children to observe and to do, and to fulfil all that is written in this law:

Psalms 90:12can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men learned in heart, in wisdom.

Isaiah 5:11Woe to you that rise up early in the morning to follow drunkenness, and to drink till the evening, to be inflamed with wine.

Isaiah 47:7And thou hast said: I shall be a lady for ever: thou hast not laid these things to thy heart, neither hast thou remembered thy latter end.

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 →

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