21. Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you–
22. For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others.
23. All this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise [independently of God]–but it was far from me.
24. That which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep–who can find it out [true wisdom independent of the fear of God]? [Job 28:12-28; I Cor. 2:9-16.]
25. I turned about [penitent] and my heart was set to know and to search out and to seek [true] wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [and what had led me into such wickedness and madness].
26. And I found that [of all sinful follies none has been so ruinous in seducing one away from God as idolatrous women] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bands. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27. Behold, this I have found, says the Preacher, while weighing one thing after another to find out the right estimate [and the reason]–
28. Which I am still seeking but have not found–one upright man among a thousand have I found, but an upright woman among all those [one thousand in my harem] have I not found. [I Kings 11:3.]
29. Behold, this is the only [reason for it that] I have found: God made man upright, but they [men and women] have sought out many devices [for evil].