2. Do not be hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart hurry to bring forth a word before Elohim. For Elohim is in the heavens, and you on earth, therefore let your words be few.
3. For a dream comes through the greatness of the task, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
4. When you make a vow to Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for He takes no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed.
5. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6. Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of Elohim that it was a mistake. Why should Elohim be wroth at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7. For in much dreaming and many words there is futility. But fear Elohim.
8. If you see the oppression of the poor, and denial of right-ruling and righteousness in a province, do not be astonished at the matter. For a higher than the high is guarding, and there are higher ones over them.
9. And the increase of the land is for all. The sovereign himself is served from the field.
10. He who loves silver is not satisfied with silver; nor he who loves wealth, and increase. That too is futile.
11. With the increase of goods, there is an increase of those consuming them. What advantage then is there to their owners, but to look on?
12. Sweet is the sleep of a labourer whether he eats little or much, but the plenty of the rich does not let him sleep.
13. There is a sickly evil I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner, for his evil.
14. But those riches perish through evil use. And he brings forth a son, and there is naught in his hand.
15. As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he returns, to go as he came. And from his labour which goes into his hand he takes none whatsoever.
16. And this too is a grievous evil – exactly as he came, so he goes. And what gain has he since he toiled for the wind?