The Philosophy and Prudential Maxims. 9:13-11:16

Another and final pause ensues, but the lover of wisdom waits in calmer mood. The climacteric of maturer life and thought has been reached. The silent query seems to be, what answer can next be given to the great question. For the last time, and as the shadows lengthen towards the "long home," this wise investigator of all things done under heaven, recovers himself, from his failure, to a permanent serenity and composure of mind. He is still wise and loves wisdom and prudence, and will not utterly forsake the law of life already found; but the height of the greater and better conclusion to fear God and keep His commandments looms in the distance. He begins, but very cautiously, to praise wisdom again, as illustrated in the case of a poor wise man who delivered a city besieged, but who also was soon forgotten. True again to nature, he cannot overlook this familiar " vanity " — to be forgotten, forgotten!

This serves him as an introduction to the " proverbial philosophy " which follows. In it, in his meditative, soliloquizing way, he sets forth sundry observations and worldly-wise maxims. All of them belong to the law of life chosen, the law requiring prudence and " due proportion " at all times and places, and especially in relation to rulers. At last, how ever, as if he had gained some solid footing for himself and for his fellow men in their work and walk with each other, he finishes these wise sayings with one very wise for man under the sun, the maturest product of his experience, that man's ignorance of God's mysterious purpose and work should not keep man from doing his own work.