1. Dead flies give perfume a bad smell. And a little foolishness can make a lot of wisdom useless.
2. The hearts of wise people lead them on the right path. But the hearts of foolish people take them down the wrong path.
3. A foolish person doesn't have any sense at all. He shows everyone he is foolish. He does it even when he is walking along the road.
4. Suppose a ruler gets very angry with you. If he does, don't quit your job in the palace. Stay calm. That will overcome the effects of your big mistakes.
5. Here's something evil I've seen on this earth. And it's the kind of mistake that rulers make.
6. Foolish people are given many important jobs. Rich people are given unimportant ones.