Wisdom and Folly

1Dead flies rising up in the ointment of a perfumer give a stench;

a little folly is heavier than wisdom and honor.

2The heart of a wise one is to his right,

and the heart of a fool to his left.

3And even in a fool walking along the way, his heart is lacking,

and he shows to everyone that he is a fool.

4If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, you should not leave your station,

for calmness puts to rest great sins.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

as an error that goes forth from before the face of the ruler:

6He has set a fool in many high places,

and the rich ones sit in the lowly place.

7I have seen slaves on horses,

and princes walking like slaves on the earth.

8The one digging a pit will fall into it;

and one breaking through a wall, a snake will bite him.

9The one pulling out stones will be hurt by them;

the one splitting trees endangers himself by them.

10If the iron has been blunt, and he has not sharpened the edge,

then he must exert strength;

and wisdom is an advantage to being successful.

11If the snake bites without a charm,

then there is no advantage for the master of the tongue.

12The words of the mouth of a wise one are favor,

and the lips of a fool will swallow him up—

13the beginning of the words of his mouth is folly,

and the end of his mouth is evil madness.

14And the fool multiplies words.

Man does not know what will come to be,

and of what will come to be after him, who can declare it to him?

15The toil of fools wearies him,

for he does not know the way to the city.

16Woe to you, O land, that your king is a youth,†

and your princes feast in the morning!

17Blessed are you, O land, that your king is a son of nobles,

and your princes feast in due season—

for strength and not for drunkenness!

18By laziness, the rafter is made to sink,

and by idleness of hands, the house leaks.

19Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry—

and the silver is the answer to all.

20Even in your thought you must not belittle the king,

and in the chambers of your bed do not belittle the rich,

for a bird of the heavens may carry along your voice,

and a possessor of wings may declare the word.