1 D ead flies make a perfume maker’s oil smell bad. So does acting a little foolish weigh more than 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 leads him toward the right. But the foolish man’s heart leads him toward the left.

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

3 E ven when the fool walks on the road, he has little understanding and 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 ruler becomes angry with you, do not back away. If you are quiet, much wrong-doing may be put aside.

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 a sin I have seen under the sun, like a mistake done by a ruler:

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

6 F ools are put in many places of honor, while rich men sit in places that are not important.

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

7 I have seen servants riding on horses, and princes walking like servants on the land.

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

8 H e who digs a deep hole may fall into it. And a snake may bite him who breaks through a wall.

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 cuts stones may be hurt by them. And he who cuts trees may be in danger by them.

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 not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well.

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 I f the snake bites before it is put under a man’s power, it will not be of help to the man who would have power over it.

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 kind, but the lips of a fool destroy him.

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 beginning of his talking is foolish, and the end of it is sinful and crazy.

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

14 Y et the fool speaks many words. No man knows what will happen. And who can tell him what will come 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 work of a fool makes him so tired that he does not even know the way to a city.

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

16 I t is bad for you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat too much 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 H appy are you, O land, when your king is from parents who have ruled, and your princes eat at the right time, for strength and not to get drunk.

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 W hen men are lazy, the roof begins to fall in. When they will do no work, the rain comes into the house.

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

19 F ood is made ready to be enjoyed, wine makes life happy, but money is the answer to everything.

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

20 D o not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom because a bird of the heavens will carry your voice and an animal with wings will make it known.

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.