<p class="poetry">The end of a matter<n id="1" /> is better than its beginning;p> <p class="poetry">likewise, patience<n id="2" /> is better than pride.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Surely the king&#8217;s authority<n id="1" /> is absolute;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">no one can say<n id="3" /> to him, &#8220;What are you doing?&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Whoever obeys his<n id="1" /> command will not experience harm,p> <p class="poetry">and a wise person<n id="2" /> knows the proper time<n id="3" /> and procedure.p>

<p class="poetry">Is there anything about which someone can say, &#8220;Look at this! It is new!&#8221;?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">It was already<n id="2" /> done long ago,<n id="3" /> before our time.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Who is<n id="1" /> a<n id="2" /> wise person? Who knows the solution<n id="3" /> to a problem?<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">A person&#8217;s wisdom brightens his appearance,<n id="5" /> and softens<n id="6" /> his harsh countenance.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Fear God and keep his commandments,p> <p class="poetry">because this is the whole duty<n id="2" /> of man.p>

<p class="poetry">Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God,p> <p class="poetry">for God is in heaven and you are on earth!p> <p class="poetry">Therefore, let your words be few.p>

<p class="poetry">Do not curse a king even in your thoughts,p> <p class="poetry">and do not curse the rich<n id="1" /> while in your bedroom;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">for a bird<n id="3" /> might report what you are thinking,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">or some winged creature<n id="5" /> might repeat your<n id="6" /> words.<n id="7" />p>