10 

A poisonous fly makes perfume putrid:

a grain of folly mars wisdom and honour.

2 

A wise man’s sense will keep him right:

a fool’s mind leads him wrong.

3 

Even on a walk the fool shows lack of sense,

for he calls everyone a fool.

4 

If a ruler’s wrath flares up against you

never resign your post

defer to him,

and you will pacify his rage.

5 

Here is an evil I have seen on earth,

a ruler blundering without meaning it:

6 

fools often get high posts from him,

while the noble take a lowly seat;

7 

so have I seen-slaves on horseback,

and princes plodding afoot like slaves.

8 

He who digs a pit may fall into it,

he who breaks a wall down may be bitten by a serpent.

9 

He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,

he who cuts logs may get a wound.

10 

If the axe is blunt and its edge unwhetted,

more strength must be put into the blow;

successful skill comes from shrewd sense.

11 

If a serpent bites before it is charmed,

then the charmer’s skill is useless.

12 

The words of wise men win them favour,

but a fool’s lips are his ruin;

13 

his words are folly from the start,

and they end in mad mischief;

14 

a fool prates on and on:

15 

even the stupid are weary of his fussiness. 14 Man knows not what is to be

who can tell him what happens when he is gone?

16 

Woe betide you, O land, when your king is a mere boy

and your princes revel in the morning!

17 

Well for you when your king is nobly born,

and princes revel at right hours,

stalwart men, not sots!

18 

Sloth makes the rafters sink:

when hands are slack, the roof will leak.

19 

Men feast for merry-making,

and they drink for revelry-

and money does it all!

20 

Curse not the king, not even on your couch,

curse not the rich, even in your bedchamber;

for a bird of the air may carry the sound,

and wings may betray the secret.