1What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
2A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.
3It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning to his heart.
4Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.
5The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
6It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
7As the sound of thorns under a cauldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.
8for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.
Ecclesiastes 7
Ecclesiastes 7:1-8