1 ¶ Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: likewise a small act of folly unto him that is esteemed for wisdom and honour.

Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!

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

The heart of the wise at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.

3 E ven when the fool walks by the way, he lacks prudence, and he says unto every one that he is a fool.

And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He a fool.'

4 ¶ If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, do not leave thy place; for meekness pacifies great sins.

If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.

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

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,

6 F olly is set in great dignity, and the rich are seated in a low place.

He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.

7 I saw slaves upon horses, and princes walking as slaves upon the earth.

I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.

8 H e that digs a pit shall fall into it, and whosoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.

9 W hosoever moves the stones shall have tribulation along with it, and he that cuts the firewood shall be endangered by it.

Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.

10 I f the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must put forth more strength, but the advantages of wisdom excel.

If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom advantageous to make right.

11 I f the serpent bites without being enchanted, then the babbler is no more.

If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

12 ¶ The words from the mouth of the wise man are grace, but the lips of the fool will swallow up himself.

Words of the mouth of the wise gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.

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

The beginning of the words of his mouth folly, And the latter end of his mouth mischievous madness.

14 T he fool multiplies words and says, Man cannot tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'

15 T he labour of the foolish wearies all of them because they do not know how to go to the city.

The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.

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

Wo to thee, O land, when thy king a youth, And thy princes do eat 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!

Happy art thou, O land, When thy king a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.

18 B y much slothfulness the building decays, and through idleness of the hands the rain drips throughout the house.

By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.

19 T he banquet is made for pleasure, and wine makes merry; but money answers all things.

For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.

20 D o not curse the king, not even in thy thought; and do not curse the rich even in the secret place of thy bedchamber; for the birds of the air shall carry the voice, and those who have wings shall tell the matter.

Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.