¶ Dead flies¹ cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little² folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

A wise³ man's heart is at his right hand; but⁴ a fool's heart at his left.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom⁵ faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

¶ If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave⁶ not thy place; for⁷ yielding pacifieth great offences.

There is an evil⁸ which I have seen under the sun, as an⁹ error which proceedeth from¹⁰ the ruler:

Folly¹¹ is set in great dignity¹², and the rich sit in low place.

¹³I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

He that¹⁴ diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent¹⁵ shall bite him.

Whoso removeth stones¹⁶ shall be hurt¹⁷ therewith; and he that cleaveth¹⁸ wood shall be endangered thereby.

¶ If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom¹⁹ is profitable to direct.

Surely the serpent²⁰ will bite without enchantment; and a babbler²¹ is no better.

¶ The words²² of a wise man's mouth are gracious²³; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

The beginning²⁴ of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk²⁵ is mischievous madness.

A fool²⁶ also is full of words²⁷: a man²⁸ cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

The labour²⁹ of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because³⁰ he knoweth not how to go to the city.

¶ Woe to thee, O land, when³¹ thy king is a child, and³² thy princes eat in the³³ morning!

Blessed art thou, O land, when³⁴ thy king is the son of nobles, and thy³⁵ princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

³⁶By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

A feast³⁷ is made for laughter, and wine³⁸ maketh merry³⁹: but money answereth all things.

¶ Curse⁴⁰ not the king, no not in thy thought⁴¹; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber⁴²: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.