1 几只死苍蝇能使做香料者的膏油发霉变臭， 一点点愚昧比智慧和荣誉的影响更大。

2 智慧人的心向右， 愚昧人的心偏左。

3 愚昧人连走路的时候， 也显出无知； 他对每一个人表现出他是个愚昧人（"他对每一个人表现出他是个愚昧人"或译： "他称每一个人都是愚昧的"）。

4 如果掌权者向你发怒， 你不要离开原位， 因为柔顺能免大过。

5 在日光之下我看见一件憾事， 好像是出于官长无意的错误，

6 就是愚昧人得居众多高位， 富有的人却处卑位。

7 我见过奴仆骑马， 贵族却像奴仆一样在地上步行。

8 挖陷阱的， 自己掉进去； 拆墙垣的， 有蛇来咬他。

9 采石的， 被石打伤； 劈柴的， 被柴损害。

10 斧头若钝了， 还不把斧刃磨快， 就必多费力气； 智慧的好处在于助人成功。

11 未行法术先被蛇咬， 那么， 法术对行法术的人就毫无用处。

12 智慧人的口， 说出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴， 却吞灭自己。

13 愚昧人的话开头是愚昧， 结尾是邪恶狂妄。

14 愚昧人多言多语。人不知道将来会有什么事， 谁能告诉他死后会发生什么事呢？

15 愚昧人的劳碌徒使自己困乏， 他连怎样进城也不知道。

16 邦国啊， 如果你的王是个孩童， 而你的大臣又一早吃喝宴乐， 你就有祸了。

17 邦国啊， 如果你的王是贵冑之子， 而你的大臣又按时吃喝， 为要得力， 不为醉酒， 你就有福了。

18 房顶塌下是因为懒惰， 房屋滴漏是因为懒得动手。

19 设宴是为欢笑， 酒能使人生快活， 金钱能解决万事。

20 不要在意念中咒骂君王， 也不要在卧房中咒骂财主， 因为空中的飞鸟会传声， 有翅膀的会述说这事。

1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city. 16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Happy 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 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things. 20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.