English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.
10
If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
11
If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
12
Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
13
At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—
14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
14
and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
15
The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
16
Woe to the land whose king was a servantand whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
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.
18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
18
Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.
19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
19
A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.