10. If the barzel (iron [of the axe]) be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must more strength be marshalled; but chochmah brings success.
11. If the nachash will bite before it is charmed, there is no use in a charmer.
12. The words of a chacham's mouth are chen (gracious); but the lips of a kesil will swallow up himself.
13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is sichlut; and the end of his talk is holelot ra'ah.
14. A kesil also is full of devarim; haAdam has no da'as of what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15. The amal of the kesilim wearieth him, because he has no da'as of how to go to town.
16. Woe to thee, O eretz, when thy melech is a na'ar, and thy sarim (princes) feast in the boker!
17. Blessed art thou, O eretz, when thy melech is a nobleman, and thy sarim (princes) eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18. By much atzlut (slothfulness) the rafters falleth; and through idleness of the hands the bais leaketh.