| 1 | Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth an offensive odor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. |
| 2 | A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart is at his left. |
| 3 | 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 spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses. |
| 5 | There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: |
| 6 | Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. |
| 7 | I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. |
| 8 | He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. |
| 9 | Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered by it. |
| 10 | If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. |
| 11 | Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. |
| 12 | The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. |
| 13 | The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. |
| 14 | 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 labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. |
| 16 | Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! |
| 17 | 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 | By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. |
| 19 | A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. |
| 20 | Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter. |