1. Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom--By reason of honour--a little folly!
2. The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3. And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He [is] a fool.'
4. If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
5. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6. He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
7. I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8. Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9. Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.