18[IS] GOOD WISDOM MORE THAN WEAPONS OF WAR AND A SINNER ONE HE WILL DESTROY GOOD MUCH 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
1FLIES OF DEATH IT CAUSES TO STINK IT FERMENTS [THE] OIL OF A PERFUMER [IS] WEIGHTY MORE THAN WISDOM MORE THAN HONOR FOLLY A LITTLE Wisdom and Folly 1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2[THE] HEART OF A WISE [PERSON] [IS] TO RIGHT [HAND] HIS AND [THE] HEART OF A FOOL [IS] TO LEFT [HAND] HIS 2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3AND ALSO ON THE WAY LIKE WHEN A FOOL [IS] GOING HEART HIS IS LACKING AND HE SAYS TO <THE> EVERYONE [IS] A FOOL HE 3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4IF [THE] SPIRIT OF THE RULER IT WILL GO UP TOWARDS YOU PLACE YOUR MAY NOT YOU LEAVE FOR CALMNESS IT WILL CAUSE TO REST SINS GREAT 4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5THERE [IS] AN EVIL [WHICH] I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN LIKE AN INADVERTENCE THAT [IS] GOING FORTH FROM TO BEFORE THE RULER 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6IT IS PUT <THE> FOLLY IN <THE> HIGH PLACES MANY AND RICH [PEOPLE] IN THE LOW PLACE THEY SIT 6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7I HAVE SEEN SLAVES ON HORSES AND PRINCES [WHO] WALK LIKE SLAVES ON THE GROUND 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8[ONE WHO] DIGS A PIT IN <THE> IT HE WILL FALL AND [ONE WHO] BREAKS THROUGH A WALL IT WILL BITE HIM A SNAKE 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9[ONE WHO] QUARRIES STONES HE WILL BE HURT BY <THE> THEM [ONE WHO] CLEAVES WOOD<S> HE WILL BE ENDANGERED BY <THE> THEM 9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself
10IF IT IS BLUNT THE IRON [AXE] AND HE NOT FACES HE HAS SHARPENED AND STRENGTH<S> HE WILL MAKE STRONG AND [IS] ADVANTAGE TO GIVE SUCCESS WISDOM 10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11IF IT WILL BITE THE SNAKE WITH NOT CHARMING AND THERE NOT [IS] PROFIT FOR [THE] MASTER OF THE TONGUE 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12[THE] WORDS OF [THE] MOUTH OF A WISE [PERSON] [ARE] FAVOR AND [THE] LIPS OF A FOOL IT SWALLOWS HIM 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13[THE] BEGINNING OF [THE] WORDS OF MOUTH HIS [IS] FOLLY AND [THE] END OF MOUTH HIS [IS] MADNESS EVIL 13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14AND THE FOOL HE MULTIPLIES WORDS NOT HE KNOWS THE PERSON WHAT? THAT <IT> WILL BE AND WHICH IT WILL BE FROM AFTER HIM WHO? WILL HE TELL TO <THE> HIM 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15[THE] TOIL OF <THE> FOOLS IT WEARIES HIM THAT NOT HE KNOWS TO WALK TO A CITY 15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16WOE! TO <THE> YOU O LAND THAT KING YOUR [IS] A YOUTH AND PRINCES YOUR IN THE MORNING THEY EAT 16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth,*NoteCloseOr a servant and whose princes feast in the morning.
17HOW BLESSED [ARE] YOU O LAND THAT KING YOUR [IS] A SON OF NOBLES AND PRINCES YOUR AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME THEY EAT FOR STRENGTH AND NOT FOR <THE> DRINKING 17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18IN LAZINESS<ES> IT SINKS THE RAFTER[S] AND IN LOWERING OF HANDS IT LEAKS THE HOUSE 18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19FOR LAUGHTER [PEOPLE ARE] MAKING FOOD AND WINE IT MAKES GLAD LIFE AND <THE> MONEY IT ANSWERS <OBJ.> <THE> EVERYTHING 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20ALSO IN MIND YOUR A KING MAY NOT YOU CURSE AND IN [THE] CHAMBERS OF LYING DOWN YOUR MAY NOT YOU CURSE A RICH [PERSON] FOR <THE> BIRD OF THE HEAVENS IT WILL CARRY <OBJ.> THE SOUND AND AN OWNER OF WINGS IT WILL TELL [THE] MATTER 20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.