A Little Foolishness

¹Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor. ² A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation]. ³ Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. ⁴ If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler— ⁶ folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places. ⁷ I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground.

⁸ He who digs a pit [for others] may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a [stone] wall. ⁹ He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he 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; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]. ¹¹ If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him; ¹³ the beginning of ^[a]his talking is foolishness and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴ Yet the fool multiplies words, though no man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after he is gone? ¹⁵ The labor of a fool so wearies him [because he is ignorant] that he does not even know how to go to a city. ¹⁶ Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials and princes feast in the morning. ¹⁷ Blessed [prosperous and admired] are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. ¹⁸ Through laziness the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sags, and through idleness [the roof of] the house leaks. ¹⁹ The officials make a feast for enjoyment [instead of repairing what is broken], and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything. ²⁰ Moreover, do not curse the king, even in your bedroom, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry the sound and a winged creature will make the matter known.