| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left. | 2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left. |
| 3Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool. | 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. |
| 4If your overseer gets angry at you, don't resign, because calmness pacifies great offenses. | 4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. |
| 5Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer: | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-- |
| 6Foolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places. | 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. |
| 7And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants. | 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. |
| 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite. | 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. |
| 9Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger. | 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. |
| 10If someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success. | 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. |
| 11If a serpent strikes despite being charmed, there's no point in being a snake charmer. | 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 12The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him. | 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; |
| 13He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with evil madness. | 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. |
| 14The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? |
| 15The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town. | 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. |
| 16Woe to the land whose king is a youth and whose princes feast in the morning. | 16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. |
| 17That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth, whose princes feast at the right time, for strength, and not to become drunk. | 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness. | 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. |
| 19Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to everything. | 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. |
| 20Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it. | 20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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