| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. |
| 2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. | 2A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. |
| 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 a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. |
| 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. | 4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. |
| 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: | 5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes. |
| 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. | 6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. | 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. |
| 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. | 8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. |
| 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. | 9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one 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 an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. |
| 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. | 11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. |
| 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | 12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. |
| 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. | 13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk 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 a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? |
| 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. | 15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. |
| 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! | 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your 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, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness. |
| 18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. | 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. |
| 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. | 19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for 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. | 20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words. |
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