| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. | 2A wise man's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. |
| 3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. | 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. |
| 4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. | 4If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest. |
| 5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes. | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler: |
| 6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. | 6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. | 7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. |
| 8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. | 8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. |
| 9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them. | 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them. |
| 10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. | 10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. |
| 11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. | 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. | 12The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, | 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. |
| 14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? |
| 15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. | 15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don't know how to go to the city. |
| 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning! | 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness. | 17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. | 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. |
| 19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. | 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. |
| 20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words. | 20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter. |
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