¹ A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. ² 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. ³ Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. ⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. ⁵ It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools. ⁶ For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.