1 D ead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

¶ 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 es also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone 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 rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.

¶ 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, the sort of error which proceeds 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 a low place.

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

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

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

8 H e who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

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

9 W hoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may 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 ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

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 I f the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.

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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

¶ 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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will 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 labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know 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 you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

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

17 H appy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your 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 slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

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 makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

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

20 D on’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may 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.