1: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send
forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in
reputation for wisdom and honour. |
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2: A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at
his left. |
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3:
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his
wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. |
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4: If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy
place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. |
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5: There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error
which proceedeth from the ruler: |
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6: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
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7: I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as
servants upon the earth. |
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8: He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh
an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. |
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9: Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that
cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. |
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10: If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must
he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. |
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11: Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a
babbler is no better. |
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12: The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of
a fool will swallow up himself. |
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13: The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and
the end of his talk is mischievous madness. |
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14: A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall
be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? |
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15: The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because
he knoweth not how to go to the city. |
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16: Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy
princes eat in the morning! |
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17: 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! |
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18: By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through
idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. |
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19: A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but
money answereth all things. |
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20: 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. |