[1] Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little simpleminded folly is weightier than wisdom and honor. [2] A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left. [3] Even when the simpleminded fool walks along the road, his heart lacks wisdom, and he says to all that he is a simpleminded fool. [4] If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because calmness causes great offenses to be abandoned. [5] There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake which goes forth from the one in power— [6] folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. [7] I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. [8] He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. [9] He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. [10] If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. [11] If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no advantage for the charmer. [12] Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up; [13] the beginning of the words of his mouth is simpleminded folly, and the end of what comes from his mouth is evil madness. [14] Yet the simpleminded fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? [15] The labor of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. [16] Woe to you, O land, whose king is a young man and whose princes eat in the morning. [17] Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for might and not for drinking. [18] Through indolence the beams sag, and through slack hands the house leaks. [19] Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine makes life glad, and money is the answer to everything. [20] Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the sky will bring the sound and the winged creature will tell the matter.
