18. It’s best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.
19. Wisdom puts more strength in one wise personThan ten strong men give to a city.
20. There’s not one totally good person on earth,Not one who is truly pure and sinless.
21-22. Don’t eavesdrop on the conversation of others.What if the gossip’s about you and you’d rather not hear it?You’ve done that a few times, haven’t you—said thingsBehind someone’s back you wouldn’t say to his face?
23-25. I tested everything in my search for wisdom. I set out to be wise, but it was beyond me, far beyond me, and deep—oh so deep! Does anyone ever find it? I concentrated with all my might, studying and exploring and seeking wisdom—the meaning of life. I also wanted to identify evil and stupidity, foolishness and craziness.
26-29. One discovery: A woman can be a bitter pill to swallow, full of seductive scheming and grasping. The lucky escape her; the undiscerning get caught. At least this is my experience—what I, the Quester, have pieced together as I’ve tried to make sense of life. But the wisdom I’ve looked for I haven’t found. I didn’t find one man or woman in a thousand worth my while. Yet I did spot one ray of light in this murk: God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.