16. Don’t try to be too right all the time.Don’t try to be too wise, either.Why should you destroy yourself this way?
17. Don’t be too wicked.And don’t be a foolish person.You will die young if you do so.
18. Try to avoid going too far in doing anything.Those who honor God will avoid doing too much of anything.
19. Wisdom gives a person strength.One wise man is stronger than ten leaders in a city.
20. Surely there is not a good man on earthwho always does good and never sins.
21. Don’t listen to everything people say.You might hear your servant insulting you.
22. You know that many timesyou also have insulted others.
23. I used wisdom to test all these things.I wanted to be wise,but it was too hard for me.
24. I cannot understand why things are as they are.It is too hard for anyone to understand.
25. I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom.I tried to find some meaning for everything.I learned that it is foolish to be evil.And it is crazy to act like a fool.
26. I found that some women are worse than death.They are as dangerous as traps.Their love is like a net.Their arms hold men like chains.A man who follows God will run away from them.But a sinner will be caught by them.
27. The Teacher says, “This is what I learned:I added all these things togetherto see if I could find some meaning for everything.
28. I am still looking for it,but I have not found it.But I did discover that truly good people are hard to find.Such people are one in a million!
29. One thing I have learned:God made people good.But people have found all kinds of ways to be bad.”