2
1A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.
3
Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he 2says to everyone that he is a fool.
4
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, 3do not leave your place, 4for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were 5an error proceeding from the ruler:
6
6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7
7I have seen slaves 8on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8
He who 9digs a pit will fall into it, and 10a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9
11He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who 12splits logs is endangered by them.
10
If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11
If the serpent bites before it is 13charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
12
The words of a wise man's mouth 14win him favor, but 15the lips of a fool consume him.
13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14
16A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him 17what will be after him?
15
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know 18the way to the city.
16
19Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
17
Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for 20drunkenness!
18
Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19
Bread is made for laughter, and 21wine gladdens life, and 22money answers everything.
20
Even in your thoughts, 23do not curse the king, nor in your 24bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.