1 D ead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.

3 Y ea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.

4 I f the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

5 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

6 f olly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 H e that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

9 W hoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10 I f the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

11 S urely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 T he words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

13 T he beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

15 T he labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

16 W oe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning.

17 B lessed 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!

Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

18 B y much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.

20 C urse 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.

Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse 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.