10:1 一个死苍蝇能败坏一碗制香膏者的香膏；一点愚昧也能败坏智能和尊荣。
More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly! 10:2 智慧人的心倾向右，愚人的心偏向左。
The wise man’s understanding turns him to his right; the fool’s understanding turns him to his left. 10:3 愚人连在走路时，也是无知，并称众人皆胡涂。
When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish. 10:4 若当权者向你生气，你不可离弃岗位，因为心平气和能避免大错。
Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses. 10:5 我在太阳下见了一件不幸的事，似乎是出于掌权者的错误：
I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler: 10:6 愚人占居高位，贵人屈居下位。
a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places. 10:7 我看见仆人骑马，而王侯反像仆人一样步行。
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves. 10:8 挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毁墙壁的必被蛇咬伤；
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent. 10:9 开凿石头的必为石压伤，砍伐树木的必遭遇危险。
He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it. 10:10 铁器钝了，如不将刃磨快，必费许多气力；成功是智慧的效能。
If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill. 10:11 行法术之前，就已被蛇咬伤，法术于行法术的人，就没有好处。
If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 10:12 智者口中的语言，为人有益；愚人的口舌却自招灭亡：
Words from the wise man’s mouth win favor, but the fool’s lips consume him. 10:13 他口中的语言，开始是愚昧，最后却是残忍的狂语。
The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness; 10:14 愚人只知多言：「将来的事怎样，人不知道；人身后的事，有谁来告诉他﹖」
yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him? 10:15 以愚人劳碌感到烦恼，因为连怎样进城，他也不知道。
When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city? 10:16 邦国，你的君王若是一个幼童，你的长官若清晨宴饮，你就有祸了!
Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning! 10:17 邦国，你的君王若出身显贵，你的长官若宴饮有时，只求养身，不为快乐，那你就有福了。
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts). 10:18 屋顶坍塌，由于怠惰；房屋滴漏，由于手懒。
When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks. 10:19 设宴是为欢乐，酒可使生活愉快；钱能应付一切。
Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything. 10:20 在床塌上，不要诅咒君王；在卧室内，不要咒骂长官，因为空中的飞鸟能传音，有翅翼的能传话。
Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say.