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 make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than 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 directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the 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 along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone 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 ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

5 T here is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

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

folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

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

I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

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

He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.

9 W hoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.

He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

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 axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

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

If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 T he words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

13 T he beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked 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?

Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

15 T he labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.

The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

16 W oe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast 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 are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

18 B y slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.

Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.

Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.

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.

Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.