²⁸ For which my soul is still searching, but I have it not; one man among a thousand have I seen; but a woman among all these I have not seen.

²³ If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;

¹ Now a number of strange women were loved by Solomon, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

² The nations of which the Lord had said to the children of Israel, You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you; or they will certainly make you go after their gods: to these Solomon was united in love.

³ He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives; and through his wives his heart was turned away.

¹ <For the chief music-maker on the Sheminith. A Psalm. Of David.> Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.

²³ All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

²⁴ Far off is true existence, and very deep; who may have knowledge of it?

⁹ In the night the desire of my soul has been for you; early will my spirit be searching for you; for when your punishments come on the earth, the people of the world will get the knowledge of righteousness.