18. It is good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.
19. Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city.
20. For surely there is not a just man upon earth that in doing good does not sin.
21. Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy slave speak evil of thee:
22. For thine own heart knows that thou thyself likewise hast spoken evil of others many times.
23. All this I have proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.
24. That which has been is far off and that which is exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25. I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;
26. and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.
27. Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, weighing things one by one to find out the answer,
28. which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.
29. Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.