51 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
51 lines
2.0 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 10
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1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
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And cause it to give off a foul odor;
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So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
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2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
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But a fool’s heart at his left.
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3 Even when a fool walks along the way,
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He lacks wisdom,
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And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
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4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
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Do not leave your post;
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For conciliation pacifies great offenses.
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5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
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As an error proceeding from the ruler:
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6 Folly is set in great dignity,
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While the rich sit in a lowly place.
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7 I have seen servants on horses,
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While princes walk on the ground like servants.
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8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
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And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
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9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
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And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
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10 If the ax is dull,
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And one does not sharpen the edge,
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Then he must use more strength;
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But wisdom brings success.
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11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed;
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The babbler is no different.
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12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
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But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
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13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
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And the end of his talk is raving madness.
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14 A fool also multiplies words.
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No man knows what is to be;
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Who can tell him what will be after him?
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15 The labor of fools wearies them,
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For they do not even know how to go to the city!
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16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
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And your princes feast in the morning!
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17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
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And your princes feast at the proper time—
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For strength and not for drunkenness!
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18 Because of laziness the building decays,
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And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
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19 A feast is made for laughter,
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And wine makes merry;
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But money answers everything.
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20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought;
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Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
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For a bird of the air may carry your voice,
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And a bird in flight may tell the matter. |