1. Why is it necessary for a man to seek things that are greater than himself, when he does not know what is advantageous for himself in his life, during the number of the days of his sojourn, and while time passes by like a shadow? Or who will be able to tell him what will be in the future after him under the sun?
2. A good name is better than precious ointments, and a day of death is better than a day of birth.
3. It is better to go to a house of mourning, than to a house of feasting. For in the former, we are admonished about the end of all things, so that the living consider what may be in the future.
4. Anger is better than laughter. For through the sadness of the countenance, the soul of one who offends may be corrected.
5. The heart of the wise is a place of mourning, and the heart of the foolish is a place of rejoicing.
6. It is better to be corrected by a wise man, than to be deceived by the false praise of the foolish.
7. For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.
8. A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.
9. The end of a speech is better than the beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.
10. Do not be quickly moved to anger. For anger resides in the sinews of the foolish.
11. You should not say: "What do you think is the reason that the former times were better than they are now?" For this type of question is foolish.
12. Wisdom with riches is more useful and more advantageous, for those who see the sun.