2. Don't be too quick to speak. Don't be in a hurry to say anything to God. He is in heaven. You are on earth. So use only a few words when you speak.
3. Dreams come to people when they worry a lot. When foolish people talk, they use too many words.
4. When you make a promise to God, don't wait too long to carry it out. He isn't pleased with foolish people. So do what you have promised.
5. It is better to make no promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it.
6. Don't let your mouth cause you to sin. Don't object to the temple messenger. Don't say, "My promise was a mistake." Why should God be angry with what you say? Why should he destroy what you have done?
7. Dreaming too much and talking too much are meaningless. So have respect for God.
8. Suppose you see poor people being mistreated somewhere. And what is being done to them isn't right or fair. Don't be surprised by that. One official is watched by a higher one. Others who are even higher are watching both of them.
9. All of them take what the land produces. And the king himself takes his share from the fields.
10. Anyone who loves money never has enough. Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what he gets. That doesn't have any meaning either.
11. As more and more goods are made, more and more people use them up. So how can those goods benefit their owner? All he can do is look at them with longing.
12. The sleep of a worker is sweet. It doesn't matter whether he eats a little or a lot. But the wealth of a rich man keeps him awake at night.
13. I've seen something very evil on earth. It's when wealth is stored up and then brings harm to its owner.
14. It's also when wealth is lost because of an unwise business deal. Then there won't be anything left for the owner's son.