New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
15 The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.
15
The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
16 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning!
16
Woe to the land whose king was a servantand whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman, and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17
Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
18
Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19 Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.
19
A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, or curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
20
Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.