1智慧使人成功幾隻死蒼蠅能使做香料者的膏油發霉變臭，一點點愚昧比智慧和榮譽的影響更大。
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2智慧人的心向右，愚昧人的心偏左。
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3愚昧人連走路的時候，也顯出無知；他對每一個人表現出他是個愚昧人（“他對每一個人表現出他是個愚昧人”或譯：“他稱每一個人都是愚昧的”）。
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4如果掌權者向你發怒，你不要離開原位，因為柔順能免大過。
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5在日光之下我看見一件憾事，好像是出於官長無意的錯誤，
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6就是愚昧人得居眾多高位，富有的人卻處卑位。
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7我見過奴僕騎馬，貴族卻像奴僕一樣在地上步行。
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8挖陷阱的，自己掉進去；拆牆垣的，有蛇來咬他。
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9採石的，被石打傷；劈柴的，被柴損害。
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10斧頭若鈍了，還不把斧刃磨快，就必多費力氣；智慧的好處在於助人成功。
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11未行法術先被蛇咬，那麼，法術對行法術的人就毫無用處。
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12智慧人的口，說出恩言；愚昧人的嘴，卻吞滅自己。
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13愚昧人的話開頭是愚昧，結尾是邪惡狂妄。
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14愚昧人多言多語。人不知道將來會有甚麼事，誰能告訴他死後會發生甚麼事呢？
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15愚昧人的勞碌徒使自己困乏，他連怎樣進城也不知道。
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16邦國啊，如果你的王是個孩童，而你的大臣又一早吃喝宴樂，你就有禍了。
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17邦國啊，如果你的王是貴冑之子，而你的大臣又按時吃喝，為要得力，不為醉酒，你就有福了。
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18房頂塌下是因為懶惰，房屋滴漏是因為懶得動手。
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19設宴是為歡笑，酒能使人生快活，金錢能解決萬事。
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20不要在意念中咒罵君王，也不要在臥房中咒罵財主，因為空中的飛鳥會傳聲，有翅膀的會述說這事。
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.