1Dead flies cause to stinke, & putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie. 2A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart [is] at his left. 3Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler: 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7I haue seene seruants on horses, and princes walking as seruants on the ground. 8He that diggeth a pit, shall fal into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9He that remooueth stones, shall hurt himselfe thereby, and hee that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby. 10If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct. 11If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler. 12The words of ye mouth of a wise man haue grace: but the lippes of a foole deuoure himselfe. 13The beginning of the wordes of his mouth is foolishnesse, and the latter ende of his mouth is wicked madnesse. 14For the foole multiplieth woordes, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him? 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed [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! 18By slouthfulnes the roofe of the house goeth to decaie, and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through. 19They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the liuing, but siluer answereth to all. 20Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.