9. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the bosom of fools.
10. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
11. Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and even better for those who see the sun.
12. For wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom preserves the life of the one who possesses it.
13. Consider the work of God, for who can straighten what He has bent?
14. In a time of prosperity, prosper! But in a time of adversity, consider: God has made one as well as the other. Therefore man cannot discover anything about his future.
15. During my fleeting days I have seen both of these things: sometimes a righteous one perishes in his righteousness and sometimes a wicked one lives long in his wickedness.
16. Do not be overly righteous nor overly wise— why confound yourself?
17. Do not be overly wicked and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
18. It is good to grasp the one and not withdraw your hand from the other. For the one who fears God will escape both extremes.
19. Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.
20. Surely there is not a righteous person on earth who does what is good and doesn’t sin.
21. Also, do not pay attention to every word people say, otherwise you might hear your servant mocking you—
22. for your heart knows that many times you too have mocked others.
23. All this I have tested with wisdom and I said, “I determined to be wise”—but it was far from me.
24. Whatever it may be, it is far off and very profound—who can fathom it?