American Standard Version ASV
Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1
Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
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A wise man's heart [goes] to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.
3 Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
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Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
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If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
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There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
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The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
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I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
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The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
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The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
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If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
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The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness.
14 A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
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Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?
15 The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
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The struggles of fools weary them, for they don't know how to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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Woe to you, land, when your king is a household servant, and your princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy 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!
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Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time- for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
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Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything.
20 Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
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Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.