11 I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, neither is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man also knows not his time [of death]: as the fishes are taken in an evil net, and as the birds are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when [calamity] falls suddenly upon them.
13 This [illustration of] wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it. And a great king came against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it. 15 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.
17 The words of wise men heard in quiet are better than the shouts of him who rules among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
1 DEAD FLIES cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy [and] send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly [in him who is valued for wisdom] outweigh wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart turns him toward his right hand, but a fool's heart toward his left. 3 Even when he who is a fool walks along the road, his heart and understanding fail him, and he says of everyone and to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity and in high places, and the rich sit in low places. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking like slaves on the earth.
8 He who digs a pit [for others] will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a fence or a [stone] wall, a serpent will bite him. 9 Whoever removes [landmark] stones or hews out [new ones with similar intent] will be hurt with them, and he who fells trees will be endangered by them. 10 If the ax is dull and the man does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps him to succeed. 11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then it is no use to call a charmer [and the slanderer is no better than the uncharmed snake].
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words, though no man can tell what will be--and what will happen after he is gone, who can tell him? 15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them, because [he is so ignorant of the ordinary matters that] he does not even know how to get to town.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child or a servant and when your officials feast in the morning! 17 Happy (fortunate and to be envied) are you, O land, when your king is a free man and of noble birth and character and when your officials feast at the proper time--for strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Through indolence the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sinks in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks. 19 [Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials] make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it. 20 Curse not the king, no, not even in your thoughts, and curse not the rich in your bedchamber, for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and a winged creature will tell the matter.