New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
1
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
2
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
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.
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
4
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
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folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
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I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
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He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
9
Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
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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.
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
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If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—
13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
14
A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
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The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servantand whose princes feast in the morning.
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Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
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.
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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!
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
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By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
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A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
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.
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.
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.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.