| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. | 1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, 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. | 2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. |
| 3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. | 3Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are. |
| 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 a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay 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, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: |
| 6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. | 6Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. |
| 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. | 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. |
| 8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. | 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever 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. | 9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs 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 its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. |
| 11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. | 11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee. |
| 12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. | 12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
| 13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, | 13At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-- |
| 14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? | 14and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell someone else what will happen after them? |
| 15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. | 15The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town. |
| 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning! | 16Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose 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 is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. | 18Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks. |
| 19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. | 19A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, 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 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. |
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