Dead
flies
cause the ointment
of the apothecary
to send forth
a stinking savour:
so doth a little
folly
him that is in reputation
for wisdom
and honour.
A wise man's
heart
is at his right hand;
but a fool's
heart
at his left.
Yea 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.
If the spirit
of the ruler
rise up
against thee, leave
not thy place;
for yielding
pacifieth
great
offences.
There is
an evil
which I have seen
under the sun,
as an error
which proceedeth
from
the ruler:
Folly
is set
in great
dignity,
and the rich
sit
in low place.
I have seen
servants
upon horses,
and princes
walking
as servants
upon the earth.
He that diggeth
a pit
shall fall
into it; and whoso breaketh
an hedge,
a serpent
shall bite
him.
Whoso removeth
stones
shall be hurt
therewith; and he that cleaveth
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 wisdom
is profitable
to direct.
Surely the serpent
will bite
without enchantment;
and a babbler
is no better.
The words
of a wise man's
mouth
are gracious;
but the lips
of a fool
will swallow up
himself.
The beginning
of the words
of his mouth
is foolishness:
and the end
of his talk
is mischievous
madness.
A fool
also is full
of words:
a man
cannot tell
what shall be; and what shall be after
him, who can tell
him?
The labour
of the foolish
wearieth
every one of them, because he knoweth
not how to go
to the city.
Woe
to thee, O land,
when thy king
is a child,
and thy princes
eat
in the morning!
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!
By much slothfulness
the building
decayeth;
and through idleness
of the hands
the house
droppeth through.
A feast
is made
for laughter,
and wine
maketh merry:
but money
answereth
all things.
Curse
not the king,
no not in thy thought;
and curse
not the rich
in thy bedchamber:
for a bird
of the air
shall carry
the voice,
and that which hath
wings
shall tell
the matter.
