New King James Version NKJV
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
1
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh 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 is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
3
Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.
4
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don't leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler:
5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.
6
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.
7
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the eretz.
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
8
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
9
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.
10
If the ax is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.
11
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness.
13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him?
14
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!
15
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!
16
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time-- For strength and not for drunkenness!
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!
18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
18
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.
19
A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.
20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.