1Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink and ferment; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3Even on the road, when the fool walks, his heart is lacking, and he tells everyone that he is a fool.
4If the ruler’s spirit rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error that goes out from before the ruler:
6Folly is set in many high positions, while the rich sit in low places.
7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall—a snake may bite him.
9One who quarries stones may be hurt by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If the iron is blunt and one does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but the advantage of skill is wisdom.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth win favor, but a fool’s lips swallow him up.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will be, and who can tell anyone what will be after him?
15The toil of fools wearies each of them, one who does not even know the way to town.
16Woe to you, land whose king is a youth and whose princes feast in the morning!
17Blessed are you, land whose king is the son of nobles and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18Through laziness the rafters sag, and through slackness of hands the house leaks.
19For laughter they make a feast, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20Even in your thoughts do not curse a king, and in your bedchambers do not curse the rich, for a bird of the sky may carry the word, and a winged creature may report the matter.
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