1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1Surnud kärbsed panevad haisema salvisegaja õli, pisut rumalust võib mõjuda rohkem kui tarkus ja au.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
2Targa süda hoiab paremale ja albi süda pahemale.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
3Teed käieski puudub albil mõistus, ja igaühele ilmneb, et ta on alp.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
4Kui valitseja viha tõuseb sinu vastu, siis ära jäta maha oma kohta, sest kannatlikkus hoiab ära suuri patte.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
5Halb asi, mida ma nägin päikese all, on see,
6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
6rumalus pannakse kõrgele kohale, suured ja rikkad aga istuvad madalal.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
7Ma olen näinud sulaseid hobuste seljas ja vürste käivat maas otsekui sulased.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
8Kes augu kaevab, langeb ise sinna sisse, ja kes müüri maha kisub, seda salvab madu.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
9Kes kive kangutab, teeb enesele häda, kes puid lõhub, ohustab ennast.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
10Kui raud on nüri ja tera ei ihuta, siis tuleb jõudu pingutada; aga tulemuseks on tarkus tarvilik.
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
11Kui madu salvab, enne kui on lausutud, siis pole lausujast mingit kasu.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
12Sõnad targa suust toovad poolehoidu, aga albi neelavad ta oma huuled:
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13tema kõne algus on alpimine ja tema kõne lõpp on kurjakuulutav meeletus.
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
14Alp teeb palju sõnu, ent ükski inimene ei tea, mis tuleb, ja kes ütleks temale, mis sünnib pärast teda?
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15Albi vaev väsitab seda, kes linnateed ei tunne.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
16Häda sulle, maa, kui su kuningaks on sulane ja su vürstid pidutsevad juba hommikul!
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17Õnnelik oled, maa, kui su kuningas on vaba mehe poeg ja su vürstid pidutsevad õigel ajal nagu mehed, aga mitte nagu joodikud!
18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
18Suure laiskuse pärast vajuvad sarikad, ja kui käsi süles peetakse, tilgub koda läbi.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
19Mõnu pärast valmistatakse rooga, vein teeb elu rõõmsaks, ja raha eest saab kõike.
20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
20Isegi mõttes ära sajata kuningat, ja oma magamiskambris ära sajata rikast, sest taeva lind viib hääle välja ja tiivuline teatab loost!