1Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink and ferment; a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2The heart of the wise inclines to his right, and the heart of the fool to his left. 3And even on the road, when the foolish man walks, his sense fails him, and he tells everyone he is foolish. 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 comes out from a ruler: 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low one. 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. 8Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall — a snake will bite him. 9Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; whoever splits logs will be endangered by them. 10If the iron is blunt and its edge has not been sharpened, then one must put out more strength; but wisdom has the gain of setting things right. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no gain for the master of the tongue. 12The words from a wise man’s mouth win favor, but the lips of a fool swallow him up. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is evil madness. 14And the foolish man multiplies words. No man knows what will be; and what will be after him — who can tell him? 15The toil of fools wearies them, for they do not know the way to town.
Woe to the land whose king is a boy
16Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose princes feast in the morning. 17Happy are you, land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time — for strength, and not for drinking. 18Through two lazy hands the roof beams sag; through slack hands the house leaks. 19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 20Even in your thoughts do not curse a king, and in your bedroom do not curse a rich man; for a bird of the sky may carry the sound, and a winged creature may report the matter.
