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 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 [is] 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 [is] 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 [is] 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 [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] 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 Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.17 Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] 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.