23. I used my wisdom and thought about all these things. I wanted to be wise, but I couldn’t do it.
24. I cannot understand why things are as they are. It is too hard for anyone to understand.
25. I studied and I tried very hard to find true wisdom. I tried to find a reason for everything. I did learn that it is foolish to be evil, and it is crazy to act like a fool.
26. I also found that some women are dangerous like traps. Their hearts are like nets, and their arms are like chains. It is worse than death to be caught by these women. God’s followers should run away from them. Let the sinners be caught by them.
27-28. The Teacher says, “I added all this together to see what answer I could find. I am still looking for answers, but I did find this: I found one good man in a thousand. But I did not find even one good woman.
29. “There is one other thing I have learned. God made people good, but they have found many ways to be bad.”