Dead flies make a ^aperfumer’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 ^aman’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the simpleminded fool walks along the road, his heart lacks wisdom, and he ^asays to all that he is a simpleminded fool. 4 If the ruler’s ¹temper rises against you, ^ado not abandon your position, because ^bcalmness 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 ^1afolly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7 I have seen ^aslaves riding ^bon horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 ^aHe who digs a pit may fall into it, and a ^bserpent 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 ¹axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must ²exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11 If the serpent bites ^1abefore being charmed, there is no advantage for the charmer. 12 ^aWords from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a ^bfool 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 ^amadness. 14 Yet the ^asimpleminded fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him ^bwhat will come after him? 15 The labor of ¹a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16 Woe to you, O land, whose ^aking is a young man and whose princes ¹eat 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 ^adrinking. 18 Through ^aindolence the beams sag, and through slack hands the house leaks. 19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and ^awine makes life glad, and ^bmoney ¹is the answer to everything. 20 Furthermore, ^ain your bedchamber do not ^bcurse 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.

Dead flies turn a ^aperfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more ¹potent than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish ^aperson’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his ¹sense is lacking, and he ^2ademonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler’s ¹temper rises against you, ^ado not abandon your place, because ^bcomposure puts great offenses to rest.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: 6 ^afoolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places. 7 I have seen ^aslaves riding ^bon horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.

8 ^aOne who digs a pit may fall into it, and a ^bserpent may bite one who breaks through a wall. 9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10 If the ¹axe is dull and he does not sharpen its ²edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success. 11 If the serpent bites ^1abefore being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer. 12 ^aWords from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a ^bfool consume him; 13 the beginning of ¹his talking is foolishness, and the end of ²it is evil ^ainsanity. 14 Yet the ^afool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him ^bwhat will come after him? 15 The labor of ¹a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16 Woe to you, land whose ^aking is a boy, and whose princes ¹feast in the morning. 17 Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for ^adrunkenness. 18 Through ^aextreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks. 19 People prepare a meal for enjoyment, ^awine makes life joyful, and ^bmoney ¹is the answer to everything. 20 Furthermore, ^ain your bedroom do not ^bcurse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make your word known.