|
[1] Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!
[2] The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
[3] And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He [is] a fool.'
[4] If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
[5] There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
[6] He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
[7] I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
[8] Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
[9] Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
[10] If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
[11] If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
[12] Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
[14] And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
[15] The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
[16] Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
[17] Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
[18] By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
[19] For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
[20] Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
|