Dead flies make a aperfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.
2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish aman's heart directs him toward the left.
3Even when the fool walks along the road, his 1sense is lacking and he 2 ademonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
4If the ruler's 1temper rises against you, ado not abandon your position, because bcomposure allays great offenses.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler--
6afolly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
7I have seen aslaves riding bon horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
8aHe who digs a pit may fall into it, and a bserpent may bite him who breaks through a wall.
9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10If the 1axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must 2exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11If the serpent bites 1 abefore being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12aWords from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a bfool consume him;
13the beginning of 1his talking is folly and the end of 2it is wicked amadness.
14Yet the afool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him bwhat will come after him?
15The toil of 1a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.
16Woe to you, O land, whose aking is a lad and whose princes 1feast in the morning.
17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time--for strength and not for adrunkenness.
18Through aindolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and awine makes life merry, and bmoney 1is the answer to everything.
20Furthermore, ain your bedchamber do not bcurse 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.