| English Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. | 1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. | 2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. |
| 3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. | 3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. |
| 4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. | 4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest. |
| 5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler: |
| 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. | 6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. | 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. |
| 8He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. | 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake. |
| 9He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. | 9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself. |
| 10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. | 10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. |
| 11If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. | 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. | 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. | 13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. |
| 14A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him? |
| 15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. | 15The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. |
| 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! | 16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Happy 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! | 17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. | 18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks. |
| 19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. | 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. |
| 20Even 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. | 20Do 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 words, and a winged creature may report your speech. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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