1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink {and} ferment; {so} a little folly is weightier than wisdom {and} honour.2 The heart of a wise {man} is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense 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 quietness pacifieth great offences.5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error {that} proceedeth from the ruler:6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.14 And the fool multiplieth words: {yet} man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know 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 a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in {due} season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

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.