New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
1
Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give out an evil smell; more valued is a little wisdom than the great glory of the foolish.
2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
2
The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong.
3 Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.
3
And when the foolish man is walking in the way, he has no sense and lets everyone see that he is foolish.
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.
4
If the wrath of the ruler is against you, keep in your place; in him who keeps quiet even great sins may be overlooked.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:
5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:
6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
6
The foolish are placed in high positions, but men of wealth are kept low.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
7
I have seen servants on horses, and rulers walking on the earth as servants.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
8
He who makes a hole for others will himself go into it, and for him who makes a hole through a wall the bite of a snake will be a punishment.
9 Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
9
He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed.
10
If the iron has no edge, and he does not make it sharp, then he has to put out more strength; but wisdom makes things go well.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
11
If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
12 Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them.
12
The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
13 The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness;
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The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
14 yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
14
The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?
15 The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.
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The work of the foolish will be a weariness to him, because he has no knowledge of the way to the town.
16 Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning!
16
Unhappy is the land whose king is a boy, and whose rulers are feasting in the morning.
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman, and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17
Happy is the land whose ruler is of noble birth, and whose chiefs take food at the right time, for strength and not for feasting.
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
18
When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
19 Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.
19
A feast is for laughing, and wine makes glad the heart; but by the one and the other money is wasted.
20 Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, or curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
20
Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.