10 Dead flies will cause even a bottle of perfume to stink! Yes, a small mistake can outweigh much wisdom and honor. ² A wise man’s heart leads him to do right, and a fool’s heart leads him to do evil. ³ You can identify a fool just by the way he walks down the street!

⁴ If the boss is angry with you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit will quiet his bad temper.

⁵ There is another evil I have seen as I have watched the world go by, a sad situation concerning kings and rulers: ⁶ For I have seen foolish men given great authority and rich men not given their rightful place of dignity! ⁷ I have even seen servants riding, while princes walk like servants!

^8-9 Dig a well—and fall into it! Demolish an old wall—and be bitten by a snake! When working in a quarry, stones will fall and crush you! There is risk in each stroke of your ax!

¹⁰ A dull ax requires great strength; be wise and sharpen the blade.

¹¹ When the horse is stolen, it is too late to lock the barn.^[a]

^12-13 It is pleasant to listen to wise words, but a fool’s speech brings him to ruin. Since he begins with a foolish premise, his conclusion is sheer madness. ¹⁴ A fool knows all about the future and tells everyone in detail! But who can really know what is going to happen? ¹⁵ A fool is so upset by a little work that he has no strength for the simplest matter.^[b]

^16-17 Woe to the land whose king is a child and whose leaders are already drunk in the morning. Happy the land whose king is a nobleman and whose leaders work hard before they feast and drink, and then only to strengthen themselves for the tasks ahead! ¹⁸ Laziness lets the roof leak, and soon the rafters begin to rot. ¹⁹ A party gives laughter, and wine gives happiness, and money gives everything! ²⁰ Never curse the king, not even in your thoughts, nor the rich man, either; for a little bird will tell them what you’ve said.