10:1 As dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment to fetid and putrid; so does a little folly to him who has a reputation for wisdom and honor. |
10:2 A man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. |
10:3 Yea also, when a fool walks along the way his wisdom fails; and he says to all that he is a fool. |
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses. |
10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes from a despot's presence; |
10:6 When foolishness is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. |
10:7 I have seen servants on horses and princes walking as servants on the earth. |
10:8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall, a snake shall bite him. |
10:9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt with them. He who splits wood shall be endangered by it. |
10:10 If the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must put more strength to it. But wisdom is profitable to direct. |
10:11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then the charmer has no advantage. |
10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. |
10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is extreme folly. |
10:14 A fool also makes many words; a man does not know what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? |
10:15 The labor of fools wearies him, because he does not know how to go to the city. |
10:16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat in the morning. |
10:17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your leaders eat at the set time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! |
10:18 By slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops. |
10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers all things. |
10:20 Do not curse a king, no, not even in your thought; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter. |