4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7. Surely extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
8. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
10. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11. Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.
12. For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.
13. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14. In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing that shall be after him.
15. All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing.
16. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17. Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?