Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
1
Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
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Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.
3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
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Fools on the road have no sense of direction. The way they walk tells the story: "There goes the fool again!"
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
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If a ruler loses his temper against you, don't panic; A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
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Here's a piece of bad business I've seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
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Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a back seat.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the eretz.
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I've seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
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Caution: The trap you set might catch you. Warning: Your accomplice in crime might double-cross you.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
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Safety first: Quarrying stones is dangerous. Be alert: Felling trees is hazardous.
10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
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Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work; Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
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If the snake bites before it's been charmed, What's the point in then sending for the charmer?
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs -
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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He starts out talking nonsense And ends up spouting insanity and evil.
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
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Fools talk way too much, Chattering stuff they know nothing about.
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
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A decent day's work so fatigues fools That they can't find their way back to town.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
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Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, And whose princes party all night.
17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For strength, and not for drunkenness!
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Lucky the land whose king is mature, Where the princes behave themselves And don't drink themselves silly.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
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A shiftless man lives in a tumbledown shack; A lazy woman ends up with a leaky roof.
19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.
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Laughter and bread go together, And wine gives sparkle to life - But it's money that makes the world go around.
20 Don't revile the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don't revile the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.
20
Don't bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath, And don't abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home. Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around. Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.