1Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s understanding is at his right hand; but a fool’s understanding at his left. 3Yes, also, when a fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, leave not your place; for gentleness allays great offenses. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from a ruler: 6Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks through a fence, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoever quarries stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaves wood is endangered thereby. 10If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then must he put more strength to it; but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then the charmer has no advantage. 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow himself up. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness. 14A fool also multiplies words; yet man knows not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him? 15The labor of fools wearies every one of them, for he knows not how to go to the city. 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a boy, and your princes feast in the morning! 17Happy are you, O land, when your king is a free man, and your princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness! 18By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes glad the life; and money answers all things. 20Curse not a king, no, not in your thought, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.
אזְבוּבֵי מָוֶת יַבְאִישׁ יַבִּיעַ שֶׁמֶן רוֹקֵחַ; יָקָר מֵחָכְמָה מִכָּבוֹד סִכְלוּת מְעָט. בלֵב חָכָם לִימִינוֹ וְלֵב כְּסִיל לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ. גוְגַם בַּדֶּרֶךְ כשהסכל (כְּשֶׁסָּכָל) הֹלֵךְ לִבּוֹ חָסֵר; וְאָמַר לַכֹּל סָכָל הוּא. דאִם רוּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁל תַּעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ מְקוֹמְךָ אַל תַּנַּח: כִּי מַרְפֵּא יַנִּיחַ חֲטָאִים גְּדוֹלִים. היֵשׁ רָעָה רָאִיתִי תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ כִּשְׁגָגָה שֶׁיֹּצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַשַּׁלִּיט. ונִתַּן הַסֶּכֶל בַּמְּרוֹמִים רַבִּים; וַעֲשִׁירִים בַּשֵּׁפֶל יֵשֵׁבוּ. זרָאִיתִי עֲבָדִים עַל סוּסִים; וְשָׂרִים הֹלְכִים כַּעֲבָדִים עַל הָאָרֶץ. חחֹפֵר גּוּמָּץ בּוֹ יִפּוֹל; וּפֹרֵץ גָּדֵר יִשְּׁכֶנּוּ נָחָשׁ. טמַסִּיעַ אֲבָנִים יֵעָצֵב בָּהֶם; בּוֹקֵעַ עֵצִים יִסָּכֶן בָּם. יאִם קֵהָה הַבַּרְזֶל וְהוּא לֹא פָנִים קִלְקַל וַחֲיָלִים יְגַבֵּר; וְיִתְרוֹן הַכְשֵׁיר חָכְמָה. יאאִם יִשֹּׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּלוֹא לָחַשׁ; וְאֵין יִתְרוֹן לְבַעַל הַלָּשׁוֹן. יבדִּבְרֵי פִי חָכָם חֵן; וְשִׂפְתוֹת כְּסִיל תְּבַלְּעֶנּוּ. יגתְּחִלַּת דִּבְרֵי פִיהוּ סִכְלוּת; וְאַחֲרִית פִּיהוּ הוֹלֵלוּת רָעָה. ידוְהַסָּכָל יַרְבֶּה דְבָרִים; לֹא יֵדַע הָאָדָם מַה שֶּׁיִּהְיֶה וַאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה מֵאַחֲרָיו מִי יַגִּיד לוֹ. טועֲמַל הַכְּסִילִים תְּיַגְּעֶנּוּ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע לָלֶכֶת אֶל עִיר. טזאִי לָךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּךְ נָעַר; וְשָׂרַיִךְ בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכֵלוּ. יזאַשְׁרֵיךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּךְ בֶּן חוֹרִים; וְשָׂרַיִךְ בָּעֵת יֹאכֵלוּ בִּגְבוּרָה וְלֹא בַשְּׁתִי. יחבַּעֲצַלְתַּיִם יִמַּךְ הַמְּקָרֶה; וּבְשִׁפְלוּת יָדַיִם יִדְלֹף הַבָּיִת. יטלִשְׂחוֹק עֹשִׂים לֶחֶם וְיַיִן יְשַׂמַּח חַיִּים; וְהַכֶּסֶף יַעֲנֶה אֶת הַכֹּל. כגַּם בְּמַדָּעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּל וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל עָשִׁיר: כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל וּבַעַל הכנפים (כְּנָפַיִם) יַגֵּיד דָּבָר.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 