1 - Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom--By reason of honour--a little folly!
2 - The heart of the wise <FI>is<Fi> at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3 - And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He <FI>is<Fi> a fool.'
4 - If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
5 - There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6 - He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
7 - I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 - Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 - Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10 - If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom <FI>is<Fi> advantageous to make right.
11 - If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12 - Words of the mouth of the wise <FI>are<Fi> gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 - The beginning of the words of his mouth <FI>is<Fi> folly, And the latter end of his mouth <FI>Is<Fi> mischievous madness.
14 - And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
15 - The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
16 - Woe to thee, O land, when thy king <FI>is<Fi> a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
17 - Happy art thou, O land, When thy king <FI>is<Fi> a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18 - By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
19 - For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
20 - Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
