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.