Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] putrefy:{HR}[So] a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honour.
The heart of a wise one is at his right hand,{HR}But a fool’s heart at his left.
Yea, also, when the fool walketh by the way,{HR}His heart faileth, and he saith to every one he is a fool.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,{HR}Leave not thy place;{HR}For yieldingness pacifieth great offenses.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun,{HR}As an error that proceedeth from the ruler:
Folly is set in great heights,{HR}And the rich sit in low place.
I have seen slaves upon horses,{HR}And princes walking as slaves upon the earth.
He that diggeth a pit falleth into it,{HR}And whoso breaketh through a fence,{HR}A serpent biteth him.
Whoso moveth stones is hurt therewith;{HR}He that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
If the iron be blunt,{HR}And one do not whet the edge,{HR}Then must he apply more strength;{HR}But wisdom is profitable for success.
If the serpent bite without enchantment,{HR}Then the master of the tongue hath no profit.
The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious,{HR}But the lips of a fool swallow him up.
The beginning of his mouth’s words is foolishness,{HR}And the end of his mouth mischievous madness.
But a fool multiplieth words.{HR}Man knoweth not what shall be;{HR}And what shall be after, who telleth him?
The toil of the foolish wearieth him,{HR}For he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child,{HR}And thy princes eat in the morning!
Happy art thou, O land,{HR}When thy king is the son of nobles,{HR}And thy princes eat in due season,{HR}For strength, and not for drunkenness!
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in;{HR}And through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
A feast is made for laughter,{HR}And wine maketh glad the life;{HR}And money answereth all things.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought;{HR}And curse not the rich in thy bedchamber;{HR}For a bird of the air shall carry the voice,{HR}And that which hath wings shall tell the matter.