3. Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6. folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9. Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10. If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11. If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12. The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14. A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15. The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17. Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!