There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from
the ruler.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the
earth.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it, and whoso breaketh an hedge a serpent
shall bite him.
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall
be endangered thereby.
If the iron be blunt, and he do not wet the edge, then must he put to more
strength.
But wisdom is profitable to direct.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment, and a babbler is no better.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will
swallow up himself.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is
mischievous madness.
A fool also is full of words.
A man cannot tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell
him?
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to
go to the city.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning.
Blessed 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.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth, and through idleness of the
hands the house droppeth through.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry, but money answereth all
things.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy
bedchamber.
For a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall
tell the matter.