1 My whole being takes pleasurein three things,and these are beautiful to the Lordand to human beings:harmony among brothers and sisters,friendship among neighbors,and a wife and husbandwho adapt to each other.
2 My whole being despisesthree types of persons,and I am angered by the way they live:an arrogant poor person,a rich liar,an old adulterer who never learns.
3 If you have gathered nothingin your youth,how then will you find anythingin your old age?
4 How beautiful is sound judgmentin gray-haired womenand finding good advice in elderly men!
5 How beautiful is wisdom in the agedand thought and counselin those who are respectable!
6 Experience is the crown of the agedand respecting the Lordis their claim to fame.
7 In my heart, I would considernine conditions to be happy,and I’ll name a tenth with my tongue—people who are made gladby their children,and who live to see the downfallof their enemies.