[1] As dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. [2] The mind of the wise tends toward the right, but the mind of the fool toward the left. [3] Fools lack all sense even when they walk down the street; they show everyone that they are fools. [4] If a ruler’s temper rises against you, don’t leave your post, because calmness alleviates great offenses. [5] There’s an evil that I have seen under the sun: the kind of mistake that comes from people in power. [6] Fools are appointed to high posts, while the rich sit in lowly positions. [7] I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves. [8] Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. [9] Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. [10] If an ax is dull and one doesn’t sharpen it first, then one must exert more force. It’s profitable to be skillful and wise. [11] If a snake bites before it’s charmed, then there’s no profit for the snake charmer. [12] Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips. [13] Fools start out talking foolishness and end up speaking awful nonsense. [14] Fools talk too much! No one knows what will happen; no one can say what will happen in the future. [15] The hard work of fools tires them out because they don’t even know the way to town! [16] Too bad for you, land, whose king is a boy and whose princes feast in the morning. [17] Happy is the land whose king is dignified and whose princes feast at the right time for energy, not for drunkenness. [18] Through laziness, the roof sags; through idle hands, the house leaks. [19] Feasts are made for laughter, wine cheers the living, and money answers everything. [20] Don’t curse a king even in private; don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird could carry your voice; some winged creature could report what you said!
