12. None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like fish in a net or birds in a trap.
13. Once I saw what people really think of wisdom.
14. It happened when a powerful ruler surrounded and attacked a small city where only a few people lived. The enemy army was getting ready to break through the city walls.
15. But the city was saved by the wisdom of a poor person who was soon forgotten.
16. So I decided that wisdom is better than strength. Yet if you are poor, no one pays any attention to you, no matter how clever you are.
17. Words of wisdom spoken softlymake much more sensethan the shouts of a rulerto a crowd of fools.