1. One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench,so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
2. A wise person’s good sense protects him,but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.
3. Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense,and shows everyone what a fool he is.
4. If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position,for a calm response can undo great offenses.
5. I have seen another misfortune on the earth:It is an error a ruler makes.
6. Fools are placed in many positions of authority,while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.
7. I have seen slaves on horsebackand princes walking on foot like slaves.
8. One who digs a pit may fall into it,and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9. One who quarries stones may be injured by them;one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10. If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge,he must exert a great deal of effort;so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11. If the snake should bite before it is charmed,the snake charmer is in trouble.
12. The words of a wise person win him favor,but the words of a fool are self-destructive.
13. At the beginning his words are foolishand at the end his talk is wicked madness,
14. yet a fool keeps on babbling.No one knows what will happen;who can tell him what will happen in the future?
15. The toil of a stupid fool wears him out,because he does not even know the way to the city.
16. Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish,and your princes feast in the morning!
17. Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility,and your princes feast at the proper time – with self-control and not in drunkenness.
18. Because of laziness the roof caves in,and because of idle hands the house leaks.