I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it is vanity.

And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors is power, and they have no comforter.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones are over them.

Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.

A man to whom God giveth wealth, and riches, and honour, and there is no lack to his soul of all that he desireth, and God giveth him not power to eat of it, but a stranger eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

For what advantage is to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

I pray thee, the commandment of a king keep, even for the sake of the oath of God.

Where the word of a king is power is, and who saith to him, 'What dost thou?'

All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.

and there hath been found in it a poor wise man, and he hath delivered the city by his wisdom, and men have not remembered that poor man!

And I said, 'Better is wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --