7:1 A good reputation 1 is better 2 than precious 3 perfume; 4
likewise, 5 the day of one’s 6 death 7 is better than the day of one’s birth. 8
7:2 It is better to go to a funeral 9
than a feast. 10
For death 11 is the destiny 12 of every person, 13
and the living should 14 take this 15 to heart.
7:3 Sorrow 16 is better than laughter,
because sober reflection 17 is good for the heart. 18
7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking. 19
7:5 It is better for a person to receive 20 a rebuke from those who are wise 21
than to listen to the song 22 of fools.
7:6 For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns 23 under a cooking pot,
so is the laughter of the fool.
This kind of folly 24 also is useless. 25
7:7 Surely oppression 26 can turn a wise person into a fool; 27
likewise, 28 a bribe corrupts 29 the heart. 30