Ecclesiastes 7:1-7

1If people respect you as a good person, that is better than expensive perfume. The day of your death is better than the day of your birth.

2If you go to a house where there is a funeral, that is better for you than to go to a party. Everyone will die one day. People should think about death while they are still alive.

3If you are sad, that is better for you than to laugh all the time. We learn more about ourselves when we are sad.

4A wise person thinks about funerals and what they mean. A foolish person thinks about how to enjoy a party.

5If a wise person warns you, listen to him. That is better for you than to listen to the songs of a foolish person.

6If you use thorn bushes to make a fire, they make a lot of noise but they burn too quickly. When a foolish person laughs, their noise also has no purpose.

7If a wise person cheats people, he becomes a fool. If you accept a bribe, you will no longer think properly.