Dead flies cause a bad smell and ruin the ointment of the perfumer.
    So also a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise inclines to his right,
    but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.
Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense;
    he tells everyone that he is a fool.
If the anger of the ruler rises against you,
    do not leave your post,
    for calmness can undo great offenses.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun—
    it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!
The fool is set in many high places,
    but the rich sit in lowly places.
I have even seen slaves riding on horses
    and princes walking like slaves on the earth!

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
    Whoever breaks through a wall, a snake will bite him.
Whoever quarries stones will be wounded by them.
    Whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.

If the ax is blunt but one does not sharpen its edge,
    he must exert more effort,
but the advantage of wisdom is it brings success.
If the snake bites before the charming,
    the snake charmer will not succeed.

The wise man wins favor by the words of his mouth,
    but the fool is devoured by his own lips.
He begins by saying what is foolish
    and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.
The fool talks too much,
    for no one knows what will be.
        Who can tell anyone what will happen in the future?
The fool is so worn out by a hard day’s work
    he cannot even find his way home at night.
Woe to you, O land, when your king is a youth
    and your princes feast in the morning.
Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobility
    and your princes feast at the proper time—
        to gain strength and not to get drunk.
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
    and through idleness of hands the house leaks.
Feasts are held for celebration,
    wine cheers the living,
        and money answers everything.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,
    and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom,
for a bird of the sky may carry your voice;
    a winged messenger may repeat your words.

Send out your bread on the water,
    for in many days you will find it.
Divide your share in seven or in eight,
    for you do not know what disaster will happen on the earth.
When the clouds are full,
    they empty rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or whether it falls to the north,
    the place where the tree falls—there it will be.
Whoever watches the wind will not sow;
    whoever watches the clouds will not reap.
Just as you do not know how the path of the wind goes,
    nor how the bones of a fetus form in a mother’s womb,
so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Sow your seed in the morning,
    and do not let your hands rest in the evening,
for you do not know what will prosper—
    whether this or that, or whether both of them alike will succeed.

The light is sweet,
    and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
For if a man lives many years,
    let him rejoice in all of them!
Let him remember that the days of the darkness will be many—
    all that is coming is vanity!
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
    and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth!
Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes—
    but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
Banish anxiety from your heart,
    and put away pain from your body,
for youth and vigor are vanity.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth—
    before the days of trouble come
and the years draw near when you will say,
    "I find no pleasure in them!"
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars darken
    and the clouds return after the rain.
When the guards of the house tremble,
    and the men of strength are bent;
the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows see dimly.
When the doors on the street are shut,
    when the sound of the grinding mill is low;
one rises up to the sound of the bird,
    and all the daughters of song are brought low.
They are afraid of heights,
    and terrors are on the road.
The almond tree blossoms,
    and the grasshopper draws itself along, and desire fails
because man goes to his eternal home,
    and the mourners go about in the streets.
Before the silver cord is snapped
    and the golden bowl is broken;
and the jar at the foundation is broken,
    and the wheel at the cistern is broken.
And the dust returns to the earth as it was,
    and the breath returns to God who gave it.

"Vanity of vanity!" says the Teacher.
    "Everything is vanity!"

Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion:
    Fear God and obey his commandments,
        for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every secret thing, whether good or evil.