| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for 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 is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. | 2A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. |
| 3Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows 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 spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. | 4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest. |
| 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As 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 great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. | 6Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. | 7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. |
| 8He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. | 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 may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. | 9The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself. |
| 10If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. | 10If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success. |
| 11A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. | 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; | 12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 13The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. | 13The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. |
| 14A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; 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 labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go 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. |
| 17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, 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. |
| 18Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. | 18Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks. |
| 19A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. | 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. |
| 20Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may 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. |
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