8 Injustice, arrogance, and wealth cause nations to fall from power, and others then rise to take their place.
9 We are only dust and ashes; what have we got to be proud of Our body decays even while we are alive.
10 A long illness puzzles the doctor. Even a king may be alive today and dead tomorrow.
11 When a person dies, all he then possesses is worms, flies, and maggots.
12 Pride has its beginning when a person abandons the Lord, his maker.
13 Pride is like a fountain pouring out sin, and whoever persists in it will be full of wickedness. That is why the Lord brought terrible punishments on some people and completely destroyed them.
14 The Lord has overthrown kings and put humbler people in their place.