¹Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

²A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool's heart to the left.

³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,

and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,

for calmness1 will lay great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: ⁶folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

⁸He who digs a pit will fall into it,

and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

⁹He who quarries stones is hurt by them,

and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

¹⁰If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,

he must use more strength,

but wisdom helps one to succeed.2

¹¹If the serpent bites before it is charmed,

there is no advantage to the charmer.

¹²The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor,3

but the lips of a fool consume him.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,

and the end of his talk is evil madness.

¹⁴A fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him what will be after him?

¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him,

for he does not know the way to the city.

¹⁶Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,

and your princes feast in the morning!

¹⁷Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,

and your princes feast at the proper time,

for strength, and not for drunkenness!

¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in,

and through indolence the house leaks.

¹⁹Bread is made for laughter,

and wine gladdens life,

and money answers everything.

²⁰Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,

nor in your bedroom curse the rich,

for a bird of the air will carry your voice,

or some winged creature tell the matter.

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