A Little Foolishness
10
Dead flies make a Aperfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish Aman’s heart directs him toward the left. Even when the fool walks along the road, his 1sense is lacking and he 2Ademonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. If the ruler’s 1temper rises against you, Ado not abandon your position, because Bcomposure allays great offenses.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler Afolly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. I have seen Aslaves riding Bon horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
AHe who digs a pit may fall into it, and a Bserpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10  If the 1axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must 2exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11  If the serpent bites 1Abefore being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12  AWords from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a Bfool consume him; 13 the beginning of 1his talking is folly and the end of 2it is wicked Amadness. 14 Yet the Afool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him Bwhat will come after him? 15 The toil of 1a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. 16  Woe to you, O land, whose Aking is a lad and whose princes 1feast in the morning. 17  Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for Adrunkenness. 18 Through Aindolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. 19  Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and Awine makes life merry, and Bmoney 1is the answer to everything. 20  Furthermore, Ain your bedchamber do not Bcurse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.
A 10:1 Ex 30:25 A 10:2 Matt 6:33; Col 3:1 1 10:3 Lit heart 2 10:3 Lit says A 10:3 Prov 13:16; 18:2 1 10:4 Lit spirit A 10:4 Eccl 8:3 B 10:4 1 Sam 25:24-33; Prov 25:15 A 10:6 Esth 3:1, 5f; Prov 28:12; 29:2 A 10:7 Prov 19:10 B 10:7 Esth 6:8-10 A 10:8 Ps 7:15; Prov 26:27 B 10:8 Amos 5:19 1 10:10 Lit iron 2 10:10 Lit strengthen 1 10:11 Lit without enchantment A 10:11 Ps 58:4, 5; Jer 8:17 A 10:12 Prov 10:32; 22:11; Luke 4:22 B 10:12 Prov 10:14; 18:7; Eccl 4:5 1 10:13 Lit the words of his mouth 2 10:13 Lit his mouth A 10:13 Eccl 7:25 A 10:14 Prov 15:2; Eccl 5:3 B 10:14 Eccl 3:22; 6:12; 7:14; 8:7 1 10:15 Lit fools A 10:16 Is 3:4, 12 1 10:16 Lit eat A 10:17 Prov 31:4; Is 5:11 A 10:18 Prov 24:30-34 A 10:19 Judg 9:13; Ps 104:15; Eccl 2:3 B 10:19 Eccl 7:12 1 10:19 Lit answers all A 10:20 2 Kin 6:12; Luke 12:3 B 10:20 Ex 22:28; Acts 23:5