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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.