• A Little Foolishness

  • 1 Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom and honor.
  • 2 A wise person’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person’s heart directs him toward the left.
  • 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.
  • 4 If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your place, because composure puts great offenses to rest.
  • 5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
  • 6 foolishness is set in many exalted places while the rich sit in humble places.
  • 7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
  • 8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite one who breaks through a wall.
  • 9 One who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
  • 10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.
  • 11 If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no benefit for the charmer.
  • 12 Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
  • 13 the beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the end of it is evil insanity.
  • 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No person knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
  • 15 The labor of a fool makes him so weary that he does not even know how to go to a city.
  • 16 Woe to you, land whose king is a boy, and whose princes feast in the morning.
  • 17 Blessed are you, land whose king is of nobility, and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
  • 18 Through extreme laziness the rafters sag, and through idleness the house leaks.
  • 19 People prepare a meal for enjoyment, wine makes life joyful, and money is the answer to everything.
  • 20 Furthermore, in your bedroom do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich person; for a bird of the sky will bring the sound, and the winged one will make your word known.