[1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
[2] A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
[3] Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
[4] If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding allayeth great offences.
[5] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
[6] folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
[7] I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
[8] He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
[9] Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
[10] If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
[11] If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
[12] The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
[14] A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
[15] The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
[16] Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
[17] Happy 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] By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth all things.
[20] 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.