10:1   A few dead flies in perfume make all of it stink, and a little foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom.

10:2   Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong.

10:3   Fools show their stupidity by the way they live; it's easy to see they have no sense.

10:4   Don't give up your job when your boss gets angry. If you stay calm, you'll be forgiven.

10:5   Some things rulers do are terribly unfair:

10:6   They honor fools, but dishonor the rich;

10:7   they let slaves ride on horses, but force slave owners to walk.

10:8   If you dig a pit, you might fall in; if you break down a wall, a snake might bite you.

10:9   You could even get hurt by chiseling a stone or chopping a log.

10:10   If you don't sharpen your ax, it will be harder to use; if you are smart, you'll know what to do.

10:11   The power to charm a snake does you no good if it bites you anyway.

10:12   If you talk sensibly, you will have friends; if you talk foolishly, you will destroy yourself.

10:13   Fools begin with nonsense, and their stupid chatter ends with disaster.

10:14   They never tire of talking, but none of us really know what the future will bring.

10:15   Fools wear themselves out-- they don't know enough to find their way home.

10:16   A country is in for trouble when its ruler is childish, and its leaders party all day long.

10:17   But a nation will prosper when its ruler is mature, and its leaders don't party too much.

10:18   Some people are too lazy to fix a leaky roof-- then the house falls in.

10:19   Eating and drinking make you feel happy, and bribes can buy everything you need.

10:20   Don't even think about cursing the king; don't curse the rich, not even in secret. A little bird might hear and tell everything.