1. As dead flies spoil the perfumer’s oil,so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2. The mind of the wise tends toward the right,but the mind of the fool toward the left.
3. Fools lack all sense even when they walk down the street;they show everyone that they are fools.
4. If a ruler’s temper rises against you,don’t leave your post, because calmness alleviates great offenses.
5. There’s an evil that I have seen under the sun: the kind of mistake that comes from people in power.
6. Fools are appointed to high posts, while the rich sit in lowly positions.
7. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walk on foot like slaves.
8. Whoever digs a pit may fall into it,and whoever breaks through a wallmay be bitten by a snake.
9. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;whoever splits logsmay be endangered by them.
10. If an ax is dulland one doesn’t sharpen it first,then one must exert more force.It’s profitable to be skillful and wise.
11. If a snake bites before it’s charmed,then there’s no profitfor the snake charmer.
12. Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips.
13. Fools start out talking foolishness and end up speaking awful nonsense.
14. Fools talk too much! No one knows what will happen; no one can say what will happen in the future.
15. The hard work of fools tires them out because they don’t even know the way to town!