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OEB ECC Chapter 10

◄ ECC 10 ► ║ ©

A Collection of Proverbs

10 As a deadly fly causes stench in the perfumer’s ointment,

So a little folly can ruin the rarest wisdom.

2 The sense of a wise an leads him to the right,

But the sense of a fool to the left.

3 As he goes on his way, a fool showeth his lack of sense;

And every one saith of him, "There goes a fool."

4 If a ruler flare up in a passion against thee,

Quit not thy post: for composure

Can lull mighty passions to rest.

5 Under the sun this evil I have seen,

As ’twere the blundering order of a Ruler:

6 The fool is set upon a lofty height,

While men of wealth must take a lowly seat.

7 Slaves have I seen upon horse-back,

And princes walking like slaves on the ground.

8 He that diggeth a pit may fall therein,

And a serpent may bite him that breaks through a wall;

9 He that quarrieth stones may be hurt by them,

And the man who cleaves wood is imperilled thereby.

10 If the iron be blunt, and you whet not its edge,

You must use more strength.

He succeeds who can claim the advantage of wisdom.

11 If a serpent bite for lack of enchantment,

Then the skillful charmer hath no advantage.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favour,

But a fool by his lips is brought to ruin;

13 From the first the words of his mouth are folly,

And the end of his speech is calamitous madness.

14 The fool maketh many words.

Man knoweth not the future;

And what shall happen after him,

Who can declare unto him?

15 The fuss of fools must weary the man

Who does not know his way to the town.

16 Alas for thee, land! when thy king is a youth,

And thy princes feast in the early morning;

17 But hail to thee, land! when thy king is a noble,

And thy princes feast at the proper season,

Like men and not like sots.

18 Through idleness the roof sinks in,

And through slackness of hands does the house fall a-leaking.

19 Feasts are made for mirth,

And wine cheers the heart of the living,

And money answereth all things.

20 Even in thy thought curse not the king,

And curse not the rich in thy sleeping-chamber;

For a bird of the air may carry the sound,

And the thing that hath wings may declare the matter.

◄ ECC 10 ► ║ ©

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