Глава 10

  • 1. Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!
  • 2. The heart of the wise `is' at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
  • 3. And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He `is' a fool.'
  • 4. If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
  • 5. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
  • 6. He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
  • 7. I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
  • 8. Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
  • 9. Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
  • 10. If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom `is' advantageous to make right.
  • 11. If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
  • 12. Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
  • 13. The beginning of the words of his mouth `is' folly, And the latter end of his mouth `Is' mischievous madness.
  • 14. And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
  • 15. The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
  • 16. Wo to thee, O land, when thy king `is' a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
  • 17. Happy art thou, O land, When thy king `is' a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
  • 18. By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
  • 19. For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
  • 20. Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.