Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to the bais evel (house of mourning), 1 than to go to the bais mishteh (house of feasting); 1 for that is the sof (end, conclusion) + 7:2 See 12:13 of kol haAdam; 1 and the living will take it to heart. 1

Orthodox Jewish Bible

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

1A shem tov is better than precious ointment; 1 and the yom hamavet than the day of oneʼs birth. 1

3Ka'as (sorrow) is better than laughter; 1 for sadness of the countenance is good for the lev. 1

Read all of Ecclesiastes 7

Cross References

Genesis 49:2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye Bnei Ya'akov; 1 and pay heed unto Yisroel Avichem. 1

Numbers 23:10Who can count the dust of Ya'akov, 1 and the number of the fourth part of Yisroel? 1 Let my nefesh die the death of the yesharim (righteous ones), 1 and let my latter end be like his!

Deuteronomy 32:46And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the devarim which I testify among you today, which ye shall command your banim to be shomer to do, kol divrei hatorah hazot.

Psalms 90:12So teach us to number yameinu, 1 that we may apply levav unto chochmah. 1

Isaiah 5:11Hoy unto them that rise up early in the boker, 1 that they may chase after shechar (strong drink); that continue until night, 1 till yayin inflame them! 1

Isaiah 47:7And thou saidst: 1 I shall be a Geveret ad l'olam (Lady forever): 1 so that thou didst not lay these things to thy lev, 1 neither didst remember her + 47:7 Babylonʼs acharit (latter end, i.e. future destruction). 1

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 7:2