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 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.

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

A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his 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 by the way, he lacks prudence, and he says unto every one 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 spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, do not leave thy place; for meekness pacifies great sins.

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

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

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

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich are seated in a low place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If the serpent bites without being enchanted, then the babbler is no more.

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

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

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 is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous 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?

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

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

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

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

¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes banquet 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 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 B y much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

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

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

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

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.

Do 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.