^{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 cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

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

^{3 Ref} Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

^{4 Ref} If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

^{5 Ref} There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

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

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

^{8 Ref} He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

^{10 Ref} If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

^{11 Ref} Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

^{12 Ref} The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

^{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 is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

^{15 Ref} The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

^{16 Ref} Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

^{17 Ref} Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

^{18 Ref} By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

^{19 Ref} A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

^{20 Ref} Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

^{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.