^{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.