King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Dead 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.
1
Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; 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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The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yea 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.
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Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
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If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
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There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
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folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
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I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
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Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
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Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
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If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a 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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Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them.
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 words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness;
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
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yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
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The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Blessed 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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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!
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
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Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
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Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.
20 Curse 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.
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.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.