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10:1  One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
10:2  A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.
10:3  Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.
10:4  If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.
10:5  I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.
10:6  Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.
10:7  I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.
10:8  One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
10:9  One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10:10  If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
10:11  If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.
10:12  The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.
10:13  At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,
10:14  yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?
10:15  The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.
10:16  Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!
10:17  Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness.
10:18  Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
10:19  Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
10:20  Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.