^{1 Ref} Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

^{2 Ref} A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.

^{3 Ref} Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

^{4 Ref} If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

^{5 Ref} There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

^{6 Ref} Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

^{7 Ref} I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.

^{8 Ref} He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

⁹ Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

^{10 Ref} If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

^{11 Ref} If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.

^{12 Ref} The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

^{13 Ref} The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

^{14 Ref} A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?

^{15 Ref} The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.

^{16 Ref} Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!

^{17 Ref} Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For strength, and not for drunkenness!

^{18 Ref} By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

^{19 Ref} A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.

^{20 Ref} Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.

^{1 Ref} Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.

^{2 Ref} The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.

^{3 Ref} And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.

^{4 Ref} If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.

^{5 Ref} There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:

^{6 Ref} The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.

^{7 Ref} I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.

^{8 Ref} He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.

⁹ He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.

^{10 Ref} If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.

^{11 Ref} If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.

^{12 Ref} The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

^{13 Ref} The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.

^{14 Ref} The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?

^{15 Ref} The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.

^{16 Ref} Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.

^{17 Ref} Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.

^{18 Ref} When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.

^{19 Ref} A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.

^{20 Ref} Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

^{1 Ref} Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!

^{2 Ref} The heart of the wise `is' at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.

^{3 Ref} And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He `is' a fool.'

^{4 Ref} If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.

^{5 Ref} There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,

^{6 Ref} He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.

^{7 Ref} I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.

^{8 Ref} Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

⁹ Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.

^{10 Ref} If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom `is' advantageous to make right.

^{11 Ref} If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

^{12 Ref} Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.

^{13 Ref} The beginning of the words of his mouth `is' folly, And the latter end of his mouth `Is' mischievous madness.

^{14 Ref} And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'

^{15 Ref} The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.

^{16 Ref} Wo to thee, O land, when thy king `is' a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.

^{17 Ref} Happy art thou, O land, When thy king `is' a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.

^{18 Ref} By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.

^{19 Ref} For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.

^{20 Ref} Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.