1. 死苍蝇使调制香料者的膏油变臭发酵；这样，一点愚昧也败坏智慧和尊荣。 Dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, to ferment; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2. 智慧人的心偏右；愚昧人的心偏左。 A wise man's heart inclines to his right, but a fool's heart inclines to his left.
3. 并且愚昧人行在路上显出无知，告诉众人他是愚昧人。 And also, when the fool walks on the way, his sense fails him, and he tells everyone that he is a fool.
4. 掌权者若向你生气，你不要离开本位，因为柔和能免大过。 If the ruler's spirit rises up against you, do not leave your place; for composure allays great offenses.
5. 我见日光之下有一祸患，似乎出于掌权者的错误， There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, like an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6. 就是愚昧人多居高位，富足人坐在低位。 Folly is set in many high places, and rich men sit in a low place.
7. 我见过仆人骑马，首领像仆人在地上步行。 I have seen servants on horses and princes walking on the earth like servants.
8. 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆通墙垣的，必为蛇所咬。 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent;
9. 开凿石头的，必受损伤；劈开木头的，必遭危险。 Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10. 铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费力气；但智慧有益，使人成功。 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then he must apply more strength; but wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
11. 未行法术以先，蛇若咬人，后行法术就无益了。 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage in a charmer.
12. 智慧人的口说出恩言，愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13. 他口中的言语起头是愚昧；他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, and the end of his talk is wicked madness.
14. 愚昧人多言多语。人不知将来有什么事；他身后的事谁能告诉他呢？ Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will be; and what will be after him, who can tell him?
15. 愚昧人的劳碌使自己困乏，因为连如何进城他也不知道。 The labor of fools wears them out, because they do not know even how to get to town.
16. 邦国阿，你的王若是孩童，你的众首领早晨吃喝宴乐，你就有祸了！ Woe to you, O land whose king is a young boy and whose princes feast in the morning!
17. 邦国阿，你的王若是贵胄之子，你的众首领按时吃喝，为要补力，不为酒醉，你就有福了！ Happy are you, O land whose king is the son of nobles and whose princes feast at the proper time, for strength and not for drunkenness!
18. 因人懒惰，房顶塌下；因人手懒，房屋滴漏。 Through slothfulness the rafters sag, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.
19. 设摆筵席是为喜笑；酒使人生快活；钱叫万事应心。 They make a feast for laughter, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
20. 你不可咒诅君王，甚至不可心怀此念；也不可在你卧房咒诅富户；因为空中的鸟必传送这声音，有翅膀的也必述说这事。 Do not curse the king even in your thought, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom; for a bird of heaven will carry the sound, or something with wings will tell the matter.