Ecclesiastes 7:1-4

New Living Translation

7 A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.
    And the day you die is better than the day you are born.
² Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
    After all, everyone dies—
    so the living should take this to heart.
³ Sorrow is better than laughter,
    for sadness has a refining influence on us.
⁴ A wise person thinks a lot about death,
    while a fool thinks only about having a good time.