Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
1
Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
2
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas he himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
3
Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.
4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
4
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
5
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
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folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
7
I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
8
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
9
Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.
10 If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
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.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
11
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
12
Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
13
The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness;
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
14
yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds?
15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not how to go to the city.
15
The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
16
Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning!
17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
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!
18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
18
Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
19
Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.
20 Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
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.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
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.