10:1 One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.
10:2 A wise man’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.
10:3 Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.
10:4 If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.
10:5 I have seen another misfortune on the earth: it is an error a ruler makes.
10:6 Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.
10:7 I have seen servants on horseback, and princes walking on foot like servants.
10:8 One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
10:9 One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10:10 If an iron ax head is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
10:11 If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.
10:12 The words of a wise man win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.
10:13 At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,
10:14 yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?
10:15 The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.