Consider the delay differential equation \[ (*)\quad y'(t)+py(t-\tau)- qy(t-\sigma)=0 \] where p, q, \(\tau\), and \(\sigma\) are positive constants. Theorem. Assume that \(\sigma\leq \tau\), \(q<p\), and \(q(\tau- \sigma)\leq 1\). Then every nonoscillatory solution of (*) tends to zero as \(t\to \infty\). Furthermore, assume that \((p-q)\tau e>1\). Then every solution of (*) oscillates. The above result is extended to equations with several delays. Finally we obtain sufficient conditions for the oscillation of delay differential equations with oscillating coefficients.