1. |
Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly! |
2. |
The heart of the wise `is' at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left. |
3. |
And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He `is' a fool.' |
4. |
If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners. |
5. |
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler, |
6. |
He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit. |
7. |
I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth. |
8. |
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him. |
9. |
Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them. |
10. |
If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom `is' advantageous to make right. |
11. |
If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue. |
12. |
Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up. |
13. |
The beginning of the words of his mouth `is' folly, And the latter end of his mouth `Is' mischievous madness. |
14. |
And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?' |
15. |
The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city. |
16. |
Wo to thee, O land, when thy king `is' a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning. |
17. |
Happy art thou, O land, When thy king `is' a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness. |
18. |
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop. |
19. |
For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all. |
20. |
Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word. |