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¹ LIKE dead flies which make the container of precious ointment stink, so does a great folly outweigh wisdom and honor.² A wise mans heart thinks rightly; but a fools heart thinks wrongly.³ Yea also, when the fool walks by the way, he lacks wisdom, and whatever he reasons is folly.

⁴ If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your country; because healing forgives many sins.⁵ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from before a ruler:⁶ The fool is set in high and powerful places, and the rich shall sit in a low place.⁷ I have seen servants riding upon horses, and princes walking like servants on the ground.⁸ He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who breaks a hedge will be bitten by a serpent.⁹ He who removes landmarks shall suffer pain by them; and he who cuts trees shall be wounded by them.¹⁰ Just as the edge of a weapon may be blunt, and not sharpened, and yet may cause many to be slain, so wisdom is more advantageous to those who are diligent.¹¹ If the serpent bites without being charmed; then in vain is a charmer.

¹² The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will ruin him.¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.¹⁴ A fool multiplies words; a man cannot tell what has been; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?¹⁵ The labor of fools wears them out because they do not know how to buy and sell in the city.

¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!¹⁷ Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of a noble and your princes eat in due time, for strength and not for drunkenness!¹⁸ By slothfulness a roof shall be brought down; and through idleness of hands water drips through.¹⁹ Bread and wine are made for joy, and oil makes life merry; but money brings one low and causes him to go astray in all things.²⁰ Do not curse the king, no not even in your thought; and do not curse the rich in your bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.