5. There is an evil I have seen under the sun— it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!
6. The fool is set in many high places, but the rich sit in lowly places.
7. I have even seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the earth!
8. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever breaks through a wall, a snake will bite him.
9. Whoever quarries stones will be wounded by them. Whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10. If the ax is blunt but one does not sharpen its edge, he must exert more effort, but the advantage of wisdom is it brings success.
11. If the snake bites before the charming, the snake charmer will not succeed.
12. The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips.
13. He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.
14. The fool talks too much, for no one knows what will be. Who can tell anyone what will happen in the future?
15. The fool is so worn out by a hard day’s work he cannot even find his way home at night.
16. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning.