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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.

KJV

Melius est nomen bonum quam unguenta pretiosa, et dies mortis die nativitatis.

Vulgate

Ἀγαθὸν ὄνομα ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον ἀγαθόν, καὶ ἡμέρα τοῦ θανάτου ὑπὲρ ἡμέραν γεννήσεως.

LXX

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.

ASV

ט֞וֹב לָ/לֶ֣כֶת אֶל בֵּֽית אֵ֗בֶל מִ/לֶּ֨כֶת֙ אֶל בֵּ֣ית מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה בַּ/אֲשֶׁ֕ר ה֖וּא ס֣וֹף כָּל הָ/אָדָ֑ם וְ/הַ/חַ֖י יִתֵּ֥ן אֶל לִבּֽ/וֹ

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

14 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֲשֶׁר
'shr
particle · 5461×
אֵ֖בֶל
'bl
noun · 24×
אֶל
'l
preposition · 5475×
אָדָ֖ם
'dm
noun · 545×
בֵּ֣ית
byt
noun · 2032×
ה֖וּא
hv'
pronoun · 1878×
חַי
chy
verb · 502×
ט֣וֹב
tvb
verb · 562×
י
y
noun · 591×
יֵּ֥לֶךְ
ylk
verb · 1038×
כָּל
kl
noun · 5376×
ם
m
verb · 1995×
מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה
mshth
noun · 46×
ס֣וֹף
svp
noun · 5×

Historic Christian voices

6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

2. What then did they? They go forth, it is said, and take counsel together to slay Him. For the Pharisees, says the Scripture, went out and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him. They had received no injury, yet they went about to slay Him. So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring. And Mark says, th…
1. A great matter, beloved, a great matter it is to preside over a Church: a matter needing wisdom and courage as great as that of which Christ speaks, that a man should lay down his life for the sheep, and never leave them deserted or naked; that he should stand against the wolf nobly. For in this the shepherd differs from the hireling; the one always looks to his own safety, …
Chapter 20.—Of David’s Reign and Merit; And of His Son Solomon, and that Prophecy Relating to Christ Which is Found Either in Those Books Which are Joined to Those Written by Him, or in Those Which are Indubitably His. David therefore reigned in the earthly Jerusalem, a son of the heavenly Jerusalem, much praised by the divine testimony; for even his faults are overcome by grea…

Cross-references

  • 1Pet 4:3 — For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
  • 1Pet 4:7 — But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
  • Deut 32:29 — O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
  • Deut 32:46 — And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
  • Eccl 2:2 — I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
  • Eccl 9:2 — All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is
  • Eccl 9:5 — For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
  • Esth 1:10 — On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence o
  • Hag 1:5 — Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
  • Heb 9:27 — And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
  • Jas 4:9 — Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
  • Jer 16:8 — Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.
  • Phil 3:19 — Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
  • Ps 90:12 — So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.