King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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 an evil 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.
2 A wise man's heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool's heart toward 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.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for deference will make amends for great offenses.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
6 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.
7 I have seen slaves on horses, 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.
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it; and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them; and he who splits logs is 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.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
11 If the serpent 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.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, 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.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is 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?
14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, so that he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, 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!
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men, 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.
18 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.
19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
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 Even in your thought, do not curse the king, nor in your bedchamber curse the rich; for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.