What is bent ¹  cannot be straightened, ²  and what is missing ³  cannot be supplied. ⁴ 

It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it. ¹ 

He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap. ¹ 

Again, ¹  I observed this on the earth: ²  the race is not always ³  won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity ⁴  does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success ⁵  always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome ⁶  them all.

All this ¹  monotony ²  is tiresome; no one can bear ³  to describe it: ⁴  The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content ⁵  with hearing.

though it never saw the light of day ¹  nor knew anything, ²  yet it has more rest ³  than that man –

But better than both is the one who has not been born ¹  and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. ² 

The one who loves money ¹  will never be satisfied with money, ²  he who loves wealth ³  will never be satisfied ⁴  with his ⁵  income. This also is futile.

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

What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only ¹  one upright ²  man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they ¹  prolong their ²  days like a shadow, ³  because they ⁴  do not stand in fear ⁵  before God.

All of man’s labor is for nothing more than ¹  to fill his stomach ²  – yet his appetite ³  is never satisfied!

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.

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

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise ¹  you might die before your time.

For ¹  there is not one truly ²  righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

Whoever obeys his ¹  command will not experience harm, and a wise person ²  knows the proper time ³  and procedure.

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.

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