| King James Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. | 2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left. |
| 3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. | 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. |
| 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. | 4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. |
| 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-- |
| 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. | 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. |
| 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. | 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. |
| 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. | 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. |
| 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. | 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. |
| 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. | 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. |
| 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. | 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; |
| 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. | 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. |
| 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? |
| 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. | 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. |
| 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! | 16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Blessed 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! | 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. | 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. |
| 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. | 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. |
| 20Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. | 20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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