Wisdom and Folly

1A dead flye doth corrupt sweete oyntment, and maketh it to stinke: Euen so oft tymes he that hath ben had in estimation for wysdome and honour, is abhorred because of a litle foolishnesse. 2A wyse mans heart is vpon his right hande, but a fooles heart vpon his left. 3A foole wyll shewe him selfe when he goeth by the way, yet thinketh he that euery man doth as foolishly as him self. 4If a principall spirite be geuen thee to beare rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for he that can take cure of him selfe, auoydeth great offences.

5Another plague is there whiche I haue seene vnder the sunne, namely, the ignoraunce that is commonly among princes: in that a foole sitteth in great dignitie, and the riche are set downe beneath. 6(10:5) in that a foole sitteth in great dignitie, and the riche are set downe beneath. 7(10:6) I haue seene seruauntes ride vpon horses, and princes goyng vpon their feete as it were seruauntes.

8(10:7) But he that diggeth vp a pitte, shall fall therin hym selfe: and who so breaketh downe the hedge, a serpent shall byte hym. 9(10:8) Who so remoueth stones, shall haue trauayle withall: and he that heweth wood, shalbe hurt therwith. 10(10:9) When an iron is blunt and the poynt not sharpened, it must be whet agayne, and that with might: Euen so doth wisdome folowe diligence. 11(10:10) A backbiter is no better then a serpent that stingeth without hissing. 12(10:11) The wordes out of a wyse mans mouth are gratious: but the lippes of a foole wyll destroy him selfe. 13(10:12) The beginning of his talking is foolishnesse: & the last worde of his mouth is starke madnesse. 14(10:13) A foole is full of wordes, and a man can not tell what shall come to passe: who wyll then warne hym of it that shall folowe after hym? 15(10:14) The labour of the foolishe is greeuous vnto them, whyle they know not howe to go into the citie. 16(10:15) Wo be vnto thee O thou lande, whose kyng is but a chylde, and whose princes are early at their bankettes. 17(10:16) But well is thee O thou lande, whose kyng is come of nobles, and whose princes eate in due season for necessitie, and not for lust. 18(10:17) Thorowe slouthfulnesse the balkes fall downe, and thorowe idle handes it rayneth in at the house. 19(10:18) Meate maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merie: but vnto money are all thinges obedient. 20(10:19) Wishe the king no euil in thy thought, and speake no hurt of the riche in thy priuie chaumber: for a byrde of the ayre shall betray thy voyce, and with her fethers shall she bewray thy wordes.