Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour:so dotha little folly him that is in reputation for wisdomandhonour.
A wise man’s heartisat his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom failethhim, and he saith to every onethatheisa fool.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
There is an evilwhichI have seen under the sun, as an errorwhichproceedeth from the ruler:
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith;andhe that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdomisprofitable to direct.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
The words of a wise man’s moutharegracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
The beginning of the words of his mouthisfoolishness: and the end of his talkismischievous madness.
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy kingisa child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Blessedartthou, O land, when thy kingisthe son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth allthings.
Curse 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.