Ecclesiastes 7:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the destination of everyone, and the living should take it to heart.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    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 take it to heart.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    It is better{H2896} to go{H3212} to the house{H1004} of mourning{H60} than to go{H3212} to the house{H1004} of feasting:{H4960} for{H834} that is the end{H5490} of all men;{H120} and the living{H2416} will lay{H5414} it to his heart.{H3820}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    It is better{H2896} to go{H3212}{(H8800)} to the house{H1004} of mourning{H60}, than to go{H3212}{(H8800)} to the house{H1004} of feasting{H4960}: for{H834} that is the end{H5490} of all men{H120}; and the living{H2416} will lay{H5414}{(H8799)} it to his heart{H3820}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    It is better to go in to an house of mournynge, then in to a bancket house. For there is the ende of all men, and he that is lyuinge, taketh it to herte.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    (7:4) It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting, because this is the ende of all men: and the liuing shall lay it to his heart.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    It is better to go into an house of mourning, then into a banketting house: For there is the ende of all men, and he that is liuing taketh it to heart.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    [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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    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 should take this to heart.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth `it' unto his heart.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    It is better to go to the house of weeping, than to go to the house of feasting; because that is the end of every man, and the living will take it to their hearts.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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 should take this to heart.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

Referenced Verses

  • Ps 90:12 : 12 Teach us to number our days carefully, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
  • Isa 5:11-12 : 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning to chase after strong drink, and who continue into the evening, inflamed by wine. 12 They have harps and lyres, tambourines and flutes, and wine at their banquets, but they pay no attention to the deeds of the Lord or consider the work of His hands.
  • Isa 22:12-14 : 12 In that day the Lord, the LORD of Hosts, called you to weeping, wailing, shaving your heads, and wearing sackcloth. 13 But behold, there is joy and gladness—killing cattle and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine—saying, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!' 14 The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: 'Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,' says the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.
  • Isa 47:7 : 7 You said, 'I will be a mistress forever,' but you did not take these things to heart or remember their outcome.
  • Amos 6:3-6 : 3 You push away the day of disaster and bring near a reign of violence. 4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs from the flock and fattened calves from the stall. 5 You strum away on your harps like David and fashion instruments for music. 6 You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
  • Hag 1:5 : 5 Now, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: Consider carefully your ways.
  • Mal 2:2 : 2 If you do not listen and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them because you do not take it to heart.
  • Matt 5:4 : 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
  • Matt 14:6-9 : 6 But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and it pleased Herod. 7 Therefore, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.' 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered it to be given to her. 10 So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then John's disciples came, took the body, buried it, and went and told Jesus.
  • Rom 6:21-22 : 21 But what fruit did you produce then from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death. 22 But now, having been freed from sin and bound to God, you have your fruit, which leads to sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life.
  • Phil 3:19 : 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
  • Heb 9:27 : 27 And just as it is appointed for humans to die once, and after that comes judgment,
  • 1 Pet 4:3-4 : 3 For you have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
  • Gen 48:1-9 : 1 After these events, someone told Joseph, 'Your father is ill.' So Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. 2 When Jacob was told, 'Your son Joseph is coming to you,' Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, 'God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.' 4 He said to me, 'I am about to make you fruitful and multiply you. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land to your descendants after you as a permanent possession.' 5 'Now, your two sons who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you here will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.' 6 'The children born to you after them will be yours. They will be recorded under the names of their brothers in their inheritance.' 7 'As for me, when I was coming from Paddan, Rachel died on me in the land of Canaan, along the way, still some distance from Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.' 8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, 'Who are these?' 9 Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons whom God has given to me here.' Israel said, 'Bring them to me, please, so I may bless them.' 10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing due to old age—he could not see well. Joseph brought the boys near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face again, but now God has even let me see your children.' 12 Joseph removed the boys from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 Then Joseph took them both—Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right—and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger; and crossing his hands, he placed his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, 'The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,' 16 'The Angel who redeemed me from all harm, may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.' 17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18 Joseph said to his father, 'No, my father, this one is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head.' 19 But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.' 20 On that day, he blessed them and said, 'By you, Israel will pronounce this blessing: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' So he placed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, 'Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your ancestors.' 22 And to you, I give one more portion than your brothers, the portion I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.
  • Gen 49:2-9 : 2 'Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.' 3 'Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the first of my vigor, excelling in dignity and excelling in power.' 4 'Unstable as water, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed; you defiled it—he went up onto my couch.' 5 'Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.' 6 'Let me not enter their council; let me not join their assembly, for in their anger they killed men, and in their self-will they hamstrung oxen.' 7 'Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.' 8 'Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, and your father's sons will bow down to you.' 9 'Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stoops down, he crouches like a lion, and like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10 'The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come, and the obedience of the peoples shall be his.' 11 'He ties his foal to the vine, his donkey's colt to the choice vine; he washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.' 12 'His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.' 13 'Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.' 14 'Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between two burdens.' 15 'When he sees how good his resting place is, and how pleasant the land is, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor.' 16 Dan will provide justice for his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider falls backward. 18 I wait for your salvation, Lord. 19 Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. 20 Asher's food will be rich, and he will provide delicacies fit for a king. 21 Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful words. 22 Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness, archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, and his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. 25 Because of the God of your father, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. 26 The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. 27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder. 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him. 29 Then he gave them these instructions: 'I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. 30 The cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the sons of Heth. 33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
  • Gen 50:15-17 : 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and repays us for all the evil we did to him?' 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, 'Before he died, your father gave this command: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: “Please forgive the transgressions of your brothers and their sin, for they treated you so badly.” Now, please forgive the transgressions of the servants of the God of your father.' Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
  • Num 23:10 : 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!
  • Deut 32:29 : 29 If only they were wise and would understand this, they would comprehend their latter end.
  • Deut 32:46 : 46 he said to them: Set your hearts on all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.
  • Job 1:4-5 : 4 His sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting were over, Job would send for them and consecrate them. Rising early in the morning, he would offer burnt offerings for each of them, thinking, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' Job did this regularly.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 7:3-5
    3 verses
    85%

    3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for when the face is sad, the heart may be improved.

    4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

    5 It is better to hear the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

  • 1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.

  • 76%

    12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end leads to death.

    13 Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.

  • Eccl 9:3-5
    3 verses
    75%

    3 This is the distressing thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate befalls all. Moreover, the hearts of humans are full of evil, and madness resides in their hearts during their lives; and after that, they join the dead.

    4 Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better than a dead lion!

    5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their memory is forgotten.

  • Eccl 4:2-3
    2 verses
    75%

    2 And I praised the dead who had already died, more than the living who are still alive.

    3 But better than both is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

  • Eccl 7:14-15
    2 verses
    75%

    14 When times are good, be joyful; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

    15 In my fleeting life, I have seen it all: The righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

  • 15 So I praised enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad. This will accompany them in their toil through the days of life that God has given them under the sun.

  • Eccl 11:8-10
    3 verses
    74%

    8 For if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in all of them, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is meaningless.

    9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart be glad in the days of your prime. Follow the ways of your heart and the sights of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

    10 Remove vexation from your heart and put away distress from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are fleeting.

  • 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to rejoice in their work, for that is their lot. Who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

  • Eccl 6:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8 What advantage has the wise person over the fool? What does the poor person gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before the living?

    9 Better is what the eyes see than the wandering of desire. This too is meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

  • 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

  • 16 A person who wanders from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.

  • 72%

    15 All the days of the afflicted are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

    16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and turmoil with it.

  • 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not act foolishly—why should you die before your time?

  • 8 Do not enter a house where feasting is taking place to sit with them, to eat and drink.

  • 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to rejoice and to do good while they live.

  • Eccl 3:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19 For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over animals, for everything is meaningless.

    20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

  • 5 For this is what the LORD says: Do not enter a house of mourning. Do not go to lament or console them, for I have withdrawn My peace from this people, declares the LORD, as well as My lovingkindness and compassion.

  • 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!

  • 6 For every purpose there is a proper time and procedure, though the misery of mankind weighs heavily upon them.

  • 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

  • Eccl 2:23-24
    2 verses
    71%

    23 All their days are full of sorrow, and their work is filled with grief; even at night their mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

    24 There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their work. This too, I realized, is from the hand of God.

  • Eccl 12:7-8
    2 verses
    71%

    7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

    8 'Utter futility,' says the Teacher. 'Everything is futile!'

  • Eccl 6:11-12
    2 verses
    71%

    11 The more words, the more meaningless—and what advantage does that bring to anyone?

    12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few days of their fleeting life? They pass like a shadow. Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

  • 6 Even if someone lives a thousand years twice over but does not enjoy their prosperity, do not all go to the same place?

  • 24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, to keep them from descending to the grave.

  • 27 Behold, we have examined this, and it is true. Listen to it and apply it to yourself.

  • 13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but a heart full of sorrow crushes the spirit.

  • 3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy life's good things and receives no proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

  • 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

  • Eccl 2:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1 I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure to see what is good.' But behold, this too was meaningless.

    2 I said of laughter, 'It is madness,' and of joy, 'What does it accomplish?'

  • 10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place, but now they are forgotten in the city where they acted this way. This too is meaningless.

  • 10 Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions.

  • 11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.