1 D ead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

Dead 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.

2 A wise man’s heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool’s heart toward his left.

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

3 E ven when he who is a fool walks along the road, his heart and understanding fail him, and he says of everyone and to everyone that he is a fool.

Yea 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.

4 I f the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses.

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

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

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

6 F olly is set in great dignity and in high places, and the rich sit in low places.

folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth.

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

8 H e who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence or a wall, a serpent will bite him.

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

9 W hoever removes stones or hews out will be hurt with them, and he who fells trees will be endangered by them.

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 I f the ax is dull and the man does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps him to succeed.

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

11 I f the serpent bites before it is charmed, then it is no use to call a charmer.

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 T he words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

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

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also multiplies words, though no man can tell what will be—and what will happen after he is gone, who can tell him?

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

15 T he labor of fools wearies every one of them, because he does not even know how to get to town.

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

16 W oe to you, O land, when your king is a child or a servant and when your officials feast in the morning!

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

17 H appy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man and of noble birth and character and when your officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness!

Blessed 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 T hrough indolence the rafters decay and the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 m ake a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and money to answer for all of it.

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

20 C urse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter.

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.