Better is a person of humble standing ¹  who nevertheless has a servant, ²  than one who pretends to be somebody important ³  yet has no food.

It is better for a person to meet ¹  a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than ²  to encounter ³  a fool in his folly. ⁴ 

A relative ¹  offended ²  is harder to reach than ³  a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates ⁴  of a fortified citadel. ⁵ 

A person who has friends ¹  may be harmed by them, ²  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity ¹  than one who is perverse in his speech ²  and is a fool. ³ 

It is better to live on a corner of the housetop ¹  than in a house in company ²  with a quarrelsome wife. ³ 

for it is better for him ¹  to say to you, “Come up here,” ²  than to put you lower ³  before a prince, whom your eyes have seen. ⁴ 

It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. ¹ 

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation ¹  by a fool is more burdensome ²  than the two of them.

A poor person ¹  who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways ²  even though ³  he is rich. ⁴ 

I thought to myself, ¹  “I have become much wiser ²  than any of my predecessors who ruled ³  over Jerusalem; ⁴  I ⁵  have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.” ⁶ 

I have concluded ¹  that there is nothing better for people ²  than ³  to be happy and to enjoy themselves ⁴  as long as they live,

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people ¹  to enjoy their work, ²  because that is their ³  reward; for who can show them what the future holds? ⁴ 

But better than both is the one who has not been born ¹  and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. ² 

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

All of man’s labor is for nothing more than ¹  to fill his stomach ²  – yet his appetite ³  is never satisfied!

It is better to go to a funeral ¹  than a feast. ²  For death ³  is the destiny ⁴  of every person, ⁵  and the living should ⁶  take this ⁷  to heart.

It is better for a person to receive ¹  a rebuke from those who are wise ²  than to listen to the song ³  of fools.

So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, ¹  but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens ²  to his advice. ³ 

The Beloved to Her Lover: ¹  Oh, how I wish you ²  would kiss me passionately! ³  For your lovemaking ⁴  is more delightful ⁵  than wine. ⁶