New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great 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 person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.
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A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
3 You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!
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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 your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
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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 another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake
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There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.
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Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!
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I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the eretz.
8 When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake.
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He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax.
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Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10 Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
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If the ax is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
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If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
12 Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.
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The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
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The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future.
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A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home.
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The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning.
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Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.
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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 Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.
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By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!
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A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.
20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.
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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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.