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 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.

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 is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at 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 a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows 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 spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies 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 I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding 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, While the rich sit in a lowly place.

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

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

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 wall will be bitten by a serpent.

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

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

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 one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

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.

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

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, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

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

The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving 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. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after 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 them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

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, And your princes 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.

Blessed 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!

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

Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

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

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

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.

Do 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.