Wisdom and Folly

1Flies of death will cause the oil of the perfume to stink, it will ferment: the preciousness of wisdom above the honor of the least folly. 2The heart of the wise one to his right, and the heart of the foolish one to his left. 3And also as the foolish one went in the way, his heart was wanting, and he said to all, It is folly. 4If the spirit of him ruling shall go up against thee, thou shalt not leave thy place; for quietness will put down great sins.

5There is an evil I saw under the sun as an error going forth from before him having power: 6Folly was given to great heights, and the rich were set in lowness. 7I saw servants upon horses, and chiefs going as servants upon the earth.

8He digging a ditch shall fall into it; he breaking down a wall, a serpent shall bite him. 9He removing stones; shall suffer pain by them; and he cleaving woods asunder shall be endangered by them. 10If the iron became dull and he polished not the face, and he will strengthen the forces: and wisdom will make preeminence to prosper. 11If a serpent will bite without magic; and no preeminence to the possessor of the tongue. 12The words of the wise one's mouth, grace; and the lips of the foolish one shall swallow him down. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth, folly: and the latter state of his mouth the folly of evil. 14And the foolish one will multiply words: man shall not know what shall be; and what shall be after him, who shall announce to him? 15The labor of the foolish will weary them, because he knew not to go to the city. 16Wo! to thee, O land: thy king a youth, and thy chiefs will eat in the morning. 17Happy thou, O land: thy king the son of nobles, and thy chiefs shall eat in time, in strength and not in drinking. 18By sloth the frame work will pine away; and by the letting down of the hands, the house will drop. 19For laughter they make bread, and wine will gladden the living: and silver will answer with all. 20Thou shalt not curse the king in thy consciousness, and in thy bed-chamber thou shalt not curse the rich for the bird of the heavens will bring the voice, and the possessor of wings shall announce the word.