Ecclesiastes 7

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 7 of 12

1 A good name is better than good oil; 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 it is the end of every man; and the living will lay it to his heart.

3 Grief is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

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Chapter Summary

Remedies against vanity are; a good name, mortification, patience, wisdom.

Key Hebrew Words

קֹהֶ֑לֶת collector H6953 · TWOT 1991c
נַחֲלָ֑ה possession H5159 · TWOT 1342a
אַחֲרִ֥ית after-part H319 · TWOT 68g
אֲחֵרִֽים another H312 · TWOT 68a
ס֣וֹף end H5490 · TWOT 1478a

People & Context

The Value of Mourning Over Feasting

A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of f…

The Rebuke of the Wise

Hearing the rebuke of wise individuals is far better than listening to the song of fools. The laughter of a fool is fleeting and useless, compared to …

Warnings Against Oppression, Bribery, and Pride

Oppression can make a wise man mad, and accepting a bribe destroys the heart. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is more v…

Timeline

The Value of Mourning Over Feasting

A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than a house of feasting because it reminds the living of the inevitable end of all men.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
The Rebuke of the Wise

Hearing the rebuke of wise individuals is far better than listening to the song of fools. The laughter of a fool is fleeting and useless, compared to the crackling sound of burning thorns under a pot.

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6
Warnings Against Oppression, Bribery, and Pride

Oppression can make a wise man mad, and accepting a bribe destroys the heart. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is more valuable than a proud spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:7-10

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Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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