Глава 10

  • 1. Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecarie to send foorth a stinking sauour: so doeth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisedome and honour.
  • 2. A wise mans heart is at his right hand: but a fooles heart at his left.
  • 3. Yea also when hee that is a foole walketh by the way, his wisedome faileth him, and hee saith to euery one that he is a foole.
  • 4. If the spirit of the ruler rise vp against thee, leaue not thy place; for yeelding pacifieth great offences.
  • 5. There is an euill which I haue seene vnder the Sunne, as an errour, which proceedeth from the ruler.
  • 6. Folly is set in great dignitie; and the rich sit in lowe place.
  • 7. I haue seene seruants vpon horses, and princes walking as seruants vpon the earth.
  • 8. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it; and who so breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
  • 9. Who so remoueth stones, shall be hurt therewith: and hee that cleaueth wood, shalbe endangered thereby.
  • 10. If the yron be blunt, and he doe not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisedome is profitable to direct.
  • 11. Surely the serpent will bite without inchauntment, and a babbler is no better.
  • 12. The words of a wise mans mouth are gratious: but the lips of a foole will swallow vp himselfe.
  • 13. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse: and the end of his talke is mischieuous madnesse.
  • 14. A foole also is full of words; a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall bee after him who can tell him?
  • 15. The labour of the foolish wearyeth euery one of them; because hee knoweth not how to goe to the citie.
  • 16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eate in the morning.
  • 17. Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the sonne of nobles, and thy princes eate in due season, for strength, and not for drunkennesse.
  • 18. By much slouthfulnesse the building decayeth; and through idlenesse of the hands the house droppeth through.
  • 19. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
  • 20. Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the aire shall carry the voyce, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.