1. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: {cf15I so doth} a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom {cf15I and} honour.
2. A wise man's heart {cf15I is} at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth {cf15I him}, and he saith to every one {cf15I that} he {cf15I is} a fool.
4. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5. There is an evil {cf15I which} I have seen under the sun, as an error {cf15I 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 whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9. Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; {cf15I and} he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10. If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom {cf15I 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 {cf15I are} gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13. The beginning of the words of his mouth {cf15I is} foolishness: and the end of his talk {cf15I 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 labour 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 {cf15I is} a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17. Blessed {cf15I art} thou, O land, when thy king {cf15I 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 {cf15I things}.
20. 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.