¹ Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer,—More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.

² The sense of the wise, is on his right hand,—But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:

³ Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!

⁴ If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.

⁵ Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun,—a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:

⁶ Folly placed in great dignity,—while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:

⁷ I had seen, servants, upon horses,—and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.

⁸ He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall,—and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.

⁹ He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith,—and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.

¹⁰ If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply,—but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.

¹¹ If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.

¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant,—but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:

¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly,—but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.

¹⁴ Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words,—[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

¹⁵ The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.

¹⁶ Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy,—and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:

¹⁷ How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles,—and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.

¹⁸ By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in,—and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.

¹⁹ Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life,—but, money, answereth all things.

²⁰ Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich,—for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.