17. Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool;otherwise you might die before your time.
18. It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning;for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.
19. Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.
20. For there is not one truly righteous person on the earthwho continually does good and never sins.
21. Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say;otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.
22. For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.
23. I have examined all this by wisdom;I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.
24. Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding;it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.
25. I tried to understand, examine, and comprehendthe role of wisdom in the scheme of things,and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.
26. I discovered this:More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter’s snare;her heart is like a hunter’s net and her hands are like prison chains.The man who pleases God escapes her,but the sinner is captured by her.