New International Version NIV
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
1
muscae morientes perdunt suavitatem unguenti pretiosior est sapientia et gloria parva ad tempus stultitia
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
2
cor sapientis in dextera eius et cor stulti in sinistra illius
3 Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
3
sed et in via stultus ambulans cum ipse insipiens sit omnes stultos aestimat
4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
4
si spiritus potestatem habentis ascenderit super te locum tuum ne dimiseris quia curatio cessare faciet peccata maxima
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
5
est malum quod vidi sub sole quasi per errorem egrediens a facie principis
6 Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.
6
positum stultum in dignitate sublimi et divites sedere deorsum
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
7
vidi servos in equis et principes ambulantes quasi servos super terram
8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
8
qui fodit foveam incidet in eam et qui dissipat sepem mordebit eum coluber
9 Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
9
qui transfert lapides adfligetur in eis et qui scindit ligna vulnerabitur ab eis
10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
10
si retunsum fuerit ferrum et hoc non ut prius sed hebetatum erit multo labore exacuatur et post industriam sequitur sapientia
11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
11
si mordeat serpens in silentio nihil eo minus habet qui occulte detrahit
12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
12
verba oris sapientis gratia et labia insipientis praecipitabunt eum
13 At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—
13
initium verborum eius stultitia et novissimum oris illius error pessimus
14 and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
14
stultus verba multiplicat ignorat homo quid ante se fuerit et quod post futurum est quis illi poterit indicare
15 The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
15
labor stultorum adfliget eos qui nesciunt in urbem pergere
16 Woe to the land whose king was a servantand whose princes feast in the morning.
16
vae tibi terra cuius rex est puer et cuius principes mane comedunt
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.
17
beata terra cuius rex nobilis est et cuius principes vescuntur in tempore suo ad reficiendum et non ad luxuriam
18 Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
18
in pigritiis humiliabitur contignatio et in infirmitate manuum perstillabit domus
19 A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
19
in risu faciunt panem ac vinum ut epulentur viventes et pecuniae oboedient omnia
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
in cogitatione tua regi ne detrahas et in secreto cubiculi tui ne maledixeris diviti quia avis caeli portabit vocem tuam et qui habet pinnas adnuntiabit sententiam
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 Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.