<t /><p class="poetry">I have concluded<n id="1" /> that there is nothing better for people<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">than<n id="3" /> to be happy and to enjoyp> <p class="poetry">themselves<n id="4" /> as long as they live,p>

<p class="poetry">Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,p> <p class="poetry">but how can one person keep warm by himself?p>

<p class="poetry">If an iron axhead<n id="1" /> is blunt and a workman<n id="2" /> does not sharpen<n id="3" /> its edge,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">he must exert a great deal of effort;<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.p>

<p class="poetry">If the snake should bite before it is charmed,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the snake charmer<n id="2" /> is in trouble.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For if they fall, one will help his companion up,p> <p class="poetry">but pity<n id="1" /> the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.p>

<p class="poetry">When someone&#8217;s<n id="1" /> prosperity<n id="2" /> increases, those who consume it also increase;p> <p class="poetry">so what does its owner<n id="3" /> gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The sleep of the laborer is pleasant &#8211; whether he eats little or much &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.p>

<p class="poetry">If the anger<n id="1" /> of the ruler flares up<n id="2" /> against you, do not resign<n id="3" /> from your position,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for a calm<n id="5" /> response<n id="6" /> can undo<n id="7" /> great offenses.p>

<p class="poetry">If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth,p> <p class="poetry">and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.p>

<p class="poetry">So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,p> <p class="poetry">but let him remember that the days of darkness<n id="1" /> will be many &#8211; all that is about to come is obscure.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">For God will evaluate every deed,<n id="1" />p> <p class="bodytext">including every secret thing, whether good or evil.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">If you see the extortion<n id="1" /> of the poor,p> <p class="poetry">or the perversion<n id="2" /> of justice and fairness in the government,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">do not be astonished by the matter.p> <p class="poetry">For the high official is watched by a higher official,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and there are higher ones over them!<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">even if he lives a long, long time,<n id="1" /> but cannot enjoy his prosperity &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">even if he were to live forever<n id="2" /> &#8211; p> <p class="poetry">I would say, &#8220;A stillborn child<n id="3" /> is better off than he is!&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">So I recommend the enjoyment of life,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for there is nothing better on earth<n id="2" /> for a person to do<n id="3" /> except<n id="4" /> to eat, drink, and enjoy<n id="5" /> life.<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">So<n id="7" /> joy<n id="8" /> will accompany him in his toilp> <p class="poetry">during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.<n id="9" />p>

<p class="poetry">then I discerned all that God has done:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">No one really comprehends what happens<n id="2" /> on earth.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Despite all human<n id="4" /> efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp<n id="5" /> it.<n id="6" />p> <p class="poetry">Even if<n id="7" /> a wise person claimed<n id="8" /> that he understood,p> <p class="poetry">he would not really comprehend<n id="9" /> it.<n id="10" />p>