If the snake should bite before it is charmed, ¹  the snake charmer ²  is in trouble. ³ 

If the anger ¹  of the ruler flares up ²  against you, do not resign ³  from your position, ⁴  for a calm ⁵  response ⁶  can undo ⁷  great offenses.

Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years – even if he lives a long, long time, ¹  but cannot enjoy his prosperity – even if he were to live forever ²  – I would say, “A stillborn child ³  is better off than he is!” ⁴ 

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity ¹  the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die! ¹ 

Who really knows if the human spirit ¹  ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?

If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.

If an iron axhead ¹  is blunt and a workman ²  does not sharpen ³  its edge, ⁴  he must exert a great deal of effort; ⁵  so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness ¹  will be many – all that is about to come is obscure. ² 

If you see the extortion ¹  of the poor, or the perversion ²  of justice and fairness in the government, ³  do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, ⁴  and there are higher ones over them! ⁵ 

I thought to myself, ¹  “Come now, ²  I will try ³  self-indulgent pleasure ⁴  to see ⁵  if it is worthwhile.” ⁶  But I found ⁷  that it also is futile. ⁸ 

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet ¹  he will be master over all the fruit of ²  my labor ³  for which I worked so wisely ⁴  on earth! ⁵  This also is futile!

then I discerned all that God has done: ¹  No one really comprehends what happens ²  on earth. ³  Despite all human ⁴  efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp ⁵  it. ⁶  Even if ⁷  a wise person claimed ⁸  that he understood, he would not really comprehend ⁹  it.

Because of laziness the roof ¹  caves in, and because of idle hands ²  the house leaks.

Although an assailant may overpower ¹  one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Fools ¹  are placed in many positions of authority, ²  while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

Surely no one knows the future, ¹  and no one can tell another person what will happen. ² 

Go, eat your food ¹  with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.

I have seen another ¹  misfortune ²  on the earth: ³  It is an error a ruler makes. ⁴