⁷ Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than that a man should hear the song of fools.

⁸ For like the noise of the ^[a]thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

⁹ Surely oppression maketh a wise man ^[b]mad: and the reward destroyeth the heart.

¹⁰ The ^[c]end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

¹¹ Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

¹² Say not thou, Why is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire ^[d]wisely of this thing.

¹⁹ Be not thou wicked ^[a]overmuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?

²⁰ It is good that thou lay hold on ^[b]this: but yet withdraw not thine hand from ^[c]that: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

²¹ Wisdom shall strengthen the wise men more than ten mighty princes that are in the city.

^22 (A)Surely there is no man just in the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.

²³ Give not thine ^[d]heart also to all the words that men speak, lest thou do hear thy servant cursing thee.

²⁴ For oftentimes also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast ^[e]cursed others.

²⁵ All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought, I will be wise, but it went far from me.

²⁶ It is far off, what may ^[f]it be? and it is a profound deepness, who can find it?

10 1 The difference of foolishness and wisdom. 11 A slanderer is like a serpent that cannot be charmed. 16 Of foolish kings and drunken princes, 17 And of good Kings and Princes.

¹ Dead flies cause to stink, and putrefy the ointment of the apothecary: so doth a little folly him that is in estimation for wisdom, and for glory.

² The heart of a ^[a]wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a fool is at his left hand.

³ And also when the fool goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he ^[b]telleth unto all that he is a fool.

⁴ If the ^[c]spirit of him that ruleth, rise up against thee, leave not thy place: for gentleness pacifieth great sins.

⁵ There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an ^[d]error that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.

⁶ Folly is set in great excellency, and the ^[e]rich sit in the low place.

⁷ I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the ground.

^8 (A)He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

⁹ He that removeth stones, shall hurt himself thereby, and he that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.

¹⁰ If the iron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more ^[f]strength: but the excellency to direct a thing is wisdom.

¹¹ If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.

¹² The words of the mouth of a wise man have grace: but the lips of a fool devour himself.

¹³ The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madness.

¹⁴ For the fool multiplieth words, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?

¹⁵ The labor of the foolish doth weary him: for he knoweth not to go into the ^[g]city.

¹⁶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a ^[h]child, and thy princes ^[i]eat in the morning.

¹⁷ Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the son ^[j]of nobles, and thy princes eat in time, for strength and not for drunkenness.

¹⁸ By slothfulness the roof of the house goeth to decay, and by the idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

¹⁹ They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the living, but silver answereth to all.

²⁰ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the ^[k]fowl of the heaven shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.

11 1 To be liberal to the poor. 4 Not to doubt of God’s providence. 8 All worldly prosperity is but vanity. 9 God will judge all.

¹ Cast thy bread upon the ^[l]waters: for after many days thou shalt find it.

² Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

³ If the ^[m]clouds be full, they will pour forth rain upon the earth: and if the ^[n]tree do fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shall be.

⁴ He that observeth the ^[o]wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds, shall not reap.

⁵ As thou knowest not which is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the work of God that worketh all.

⁶ In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand ^[p]rest: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or ^[q]that, or whether both shall be a like good.