| 1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil
odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. 2 A wise
man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3 Yea
also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he
saith to every one that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler
rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great
offences. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were
an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignity,
and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and
princes walking like servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit
shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite
him. 9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he
that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and one
do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is
profitable to direct. 11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is
there no advantage in the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are
gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning
of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is
mischievous madness. 14 A fool also multiplieth words: yet man
knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell
him? 15 The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not
how to go to the city. 16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child,
and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy
king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength,
and not for drunkenness! 18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and
through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. 19 A feast is made for
laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in
thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that
which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Genesis - Public
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