10
1 Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink and bubble;
a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to his right, but a fool’s heart to his left.
3 Even when a fool walks on the road, he lacks sense and shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error proceeding from a ruler:
6 Folly is set in very high places, while the rich sit in low places.
7 I have seen servants on horses and princes walking on the ground like servants.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
9 Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits wood is endangered by it.
10 If the iron is dull and its edge is not sharpened, more strength must be used;
but wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words.
Man does not know what will be;
who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The toil of fools wearies each one, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a child and whose princes feast in the morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at the proper time, for strength and not for drunkenness!
18 Through laziness the roof sags, and through idle hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and a winged creature may report the word.