1Dead flies give perfume a bad smell.
And a little foolishness can make a lot of wisdom useless.
2The hearts of wise people lead them on the right path.
But the hearts of foolish people take them down the wrong path.
3Foolish people don’t have any sense at all.
They show everyone they are foolish.
They do it even when they are walking along the road.
4Suppose a ruler gets very angry with you.
If he does, don’t quit your job in the palace.
Being calm can overcome what you have done against him.
5Here’s something evil I’ve seen on this earth.
And it’s the kind of mistake that rulers make.
6Foolish people are given many important jobs.
Rich people are given unimportant ones.
7I’ve seen slaves on horseback.
I’ve also seen princes who were forced to walk as if they were slaves.
8Anyone who digs a pit might fall into it.
Anyone who breaks through a wall might be bitten by a snake.
9Anyone who removes stones from rock pits might get hurt.
Anyone who cuts logs might get wounded.
10Suppose the blade of an ax is dull.
And its edge hasn’t been sharpened.
Then more effort is needed to use it.
But skill will bring success.
11Suppose a snake bites before it is charmed.
Then the snake charmer receives no payment.
12Wise people say gracious things.
But foolish people are destroyed by what their own lips speak.
13At first what they say is foolish.
In the end their words are very evil.
14They talk too much.
No one knows what lies ahead.
Who can tell someone else what will happen after they are gone?
15The work foolish people do makes them tired.
They don’t even know the way to town.
16How terrible it is for a land whose king used to be a servant!
How terrible if its princes get drunk in the morning!
17How blessed is the land whose king was born into the royal family!
How blessed if its princes eat and drink at the proper time!
How blessed if they eat and drink to become strong and not to get drunk!
18When a person won’t work, the roof falls down.
Because of hands that aren’t busy, the house leaks.
19People laugh at a dinner party.
And wine makes life happy.
People think money can buy everything.
20Don’t say bad things about the king.
Don’t even think about those things.
Don’t curse rich people.
Don’t even curse them in your bedroom.
A bird might fly away and carry your words.
It might report what you said.
1Dead 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.10.1 Dead…: Heb. Flies of death 2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yea 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.10.3 his…: Heb. his heart
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:10.5 from: Heb. from before 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.10.6 in great…: Heb. in great heights 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.10.11 a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.10.12 gracious: Heb. grace 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.10.13 his talk: Heb. his mouth 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?10.14 is full…: Heb. multiplieth words 15The 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 is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed 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!
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 things.10.19 maketh…: Heb. maketh glad the life
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.10.20 thought: or, conscience
