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10:1  Dead flies cause a bad smell and ruin the ointment of the perfumer. So also a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
10:2  The heart of the wise inclines to his right, but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.
10:3  Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense; he tells everyone that he is a fool.
10:4  If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness can undo great offenses.
10:5  There is an evil I have seen under the sun— it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!
10:6  The fool is set in many high places, but the rich sit in lowly places.
10:7  I have even seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the earth!
10:8  Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever breaks through a wall, a snake will bite him.
10:9  Whoever quarries stones will be wounded by them. Whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10:10  If the ax is blunt but one does not sharpen its edge, he must exert more effort, but the advantage of wisdom is it brings success.
10:11  If the snake bites before the charming, the snake charmer will not succeed.
10:12  The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips.
10:13  He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.
10:14  The fool talks too much, for no one knows what will be. Who can tell anyone what will happen in the future?
10:15  The fool is so worn out by a hard day’s work he cannot even find his way home at night.
10:16  Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning.
10:17  Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobility and your princes feast at the proper time— to gain strength and not to get drunk.
10:18  Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.
10:19  Feasts are held for celebration, wine cheers the living, and money answers everything.
10:20  Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice; a winged messenger may repeat your words.