1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink {and} ferment; {so} a little folly is weightier than wisdom {and} honour.2 The heart of a wise {man} is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth {him}, and he saith to every one {that} he is a fool.4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error {that} proceedeth from the ruler:6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.8 He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.9 Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.11 If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.14 And the fool multiplieth words: {yet} man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?15 The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in {due} season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!18 By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

1 Ma nga ngaro mate ka piro whakahouhou ai te hinu a te kaiwhakananu: ka pera ano te whakaaro nui me te ingoa nui, he iti noa te wairangi mana e tami.2 Kei tona ringa matau te ngakau o te tangata whakaaro nui; kei tona maui ia te ngakau o te wairangi.3 Ae ra hoki, ka haere te wairangi i te ara, ka taka ona mahara, a ka korero ia ki nga tangata katoa he wairangi ia.4 Ki te ara te wairua o te rangatira, he riri ki a koe, kaua tou wahi e whakarerea; ka ai hoki te whakangawari hei whakamarie mo nga hara nui.5 Tenei tetahi kino i kitea e ahau i raro i te ra, e rite tonu ana ki te he i puta mai i te rangatira.6 Ko te wairangi e whakanohoia ana ki runga ki nga wahi tiketike rawa, a ko nga tangata taonga e noho ana i te wahi i raro.7 I kite ahau i nga kaimahi i runga i te hoiho, a ko nga rangatira e haere ana, ano he kaimahi, i runga i te whenua.8 Ko te tangata e keri ana i te rua, ka taka ano ki roto; ko te tangata e wahi ana i te taiepa, ka ngaua e te nakahi.9 Ko te tangata e tarai ana i nga kohatu, ka mamae ano i reira; ko te tangata e tata ana i te rakau, ka ora noa ano i reira.10 Ki te puhuki te rino, a kahore e whakakoia te mata, kia nui ake ano tona kaha; he pai ia nga whakaaro nui hei whakatikatika.11 Ki te ngau te nakahi i te mea kiano i whakawaia, kahore hoki he painga o te kaiwhakawai.12 He ataahua nga kupu a te mangai o te tangata whakaaro nui; tena ko te wairangi ka horomia a ia ano e ona ngutu.13 Ko te timatanga o nga kupu a tona mangai he wairangi; ko te mutunga o tana korero, he haurangi, he he.14 He maha ano hoki nga kupu a te wairangi: engari e kore te tangata e mohio ko te aha e puta mai. Na, ko nga mea e puta mai i muri i a ia, ma wai ra e whakaatu ki a ia?15 Hoha iho nga wairangi i tana mahi i tana mahi: e kore nei hoki ia e matau ki te haere ki te pa.16 Aue, te mate mou, e te whenua he tamaiti nei tou kingi, a e kai ana ou rangatira i te ata!17 Ka hari koe, e te whenua, he tamaiti nei no nga rangatira tou kingi, a e kai ana ou rangatira i te wa e tika ai, hei mea whakakaha, ehara i te mea hei whakahaurangi.18 Ma te mangere ka totohu iho ai te tuanui o te whare; ma te ngoikore ano o nga ringa ka tuturu ai te whare.19 Hei mea mo te kata te hakari i tukua ai, he mea whakahari ano te waina; a ma te hiriwa ka rite ai nga mea katoa.20 Kaua e kanga te kingi, kaua rawa i roto i tou whakaaro; kaua hoki e kanga te tangata taonga i roto i tou whare moenga: no te mea ka kawea te reo e tetahi manu o te rangi, ka korerotia hoki taua mea e tetahi mea whai parirau.