Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.

Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them.

For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.

So I concluded, "Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the wisdom of the poor is rejected his words are never heard."

If the clouds are full of rain, they will pour out on the earth; if a tree falls toward the south or the north, wherever it falls, there it will lay.

when that day comes, the palace guards will tremble, strong men will stoop down, women grinders will cease because they are few, and the sight of those who peer through the lattice will grow dim.