1 Dead flies can make the perfumer's oil stink and ferment; a small act of folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

2 A wise person's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart inclines him to the left.

A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.

3 Even while walking along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how foolish he is.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4 If the anger of a ruler rises against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error that proceeds from a ruler:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

6 Foolishness is set in high places, while the rich sit in lowly positions.

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

7 I have seen servants riding on horses and princes walking on foot like servants.

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits wood may be endangered by it.

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the iron axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but wisdom brings success.

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise person's mouth bring favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The beginning of a fool's speech is foolishness, and the end of it is evil madness.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool multiplies words; no one knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The work of fools wearies them because they do not even know how to go to the city.

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a youth and whose princes feast in the morning.

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is the son of nobles, and whose princes eat at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Blessed 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 Because of laziness, the roof sinks, and through idle hands, the house leaks.

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report what you say.

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.