1 Dead flies make a AEx 30:25perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish AMatt 6:33; Col 3:1man’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his 1Lit heartsense is lacking and he 2Lit saysAProv 13:16; 18:2demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler’s 1Lit spirittemper rises against you, AEccl 8:3do not abandon your position, because B1 Sam 25:24-33; Prov 25:15composure allays great offenses.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler— 6 AEsth 3:1, 5f; Prov 28:12; 29:2folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7 I have seen AProv 19:10slaves riding BEsth 6:8-10on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 APs 7:15; Prov 26:27He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a BAmos 5:19serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10 If the 1Lit ironaxe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must 2Lit strengthenexert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11 If the serpent bites 1Lit without enchantmentAPs 58:4, 5; Jer 8:17before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 AProv 10:32; 22:11; Luke 4:22Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a BProv 10:14; 18:7; Eccl 4:5fool consume him; 13 the beginning of 1Lit the words of his mouthhis talking is folly and the end of 2Lit his mouthit is wicked AEccl 7:25madness. 14 Yet the AProv 15:2; Eccl 5:3fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him BEccl 3:22; 6:12; 7:14; 8:7what will come after him? 15 The toil of 1Lit foolsa fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16 Woe to you, O land, whose AIs 3:4, 12king is a lad and whose princes 1Lit eatfeast in the morning. 17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for AProv 31:4; Is 5:11drunkenness. 18 Through AProv 24:30-34indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. 19 Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and AJudg 9:13; Ps 104:15; Eccl 2:3wine makes life merry, and BEccl 7:12money 1Lit answers allis the answer to everything. 20 Furthermore, A2 Kin 6:12; Luke 12:3in your bedchamber do not BEx 22:28; Acts 23:5curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.