1 D ead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly outweigh 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 turns him toward his right hand, but a fool’s heart toward his left.

3 E ven when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.

Even 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.

4 I f the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

If 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.

5 T here is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:

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

6 F olly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.

Folly is set in great dignity and in high places, and the rich sit in low places.

7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

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

8 H e who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.

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

9 H e who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.

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

10 I f the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

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

11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.

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

12 T he words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

13 T he words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.

14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?

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?

15 T he labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

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

16 W oe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!

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

17 B lessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time— For strength and not for drunkenness!

Happy (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!

18 B ecause of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

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

19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

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

20 D o not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Curse 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.