New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. | 1As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. |
2A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. | 2A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. |
3You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street! | 3You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street! |
4If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. The Ironies of Life | 4If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. The Ironies of Life |
5There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake | 5There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake |
6when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. | 6when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. |
7I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants! | 7I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants! |
8When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. | 8When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. |
9When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax. | 9When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax. |
10Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. | 10Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. |
11If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer? | 11If a snake bites before you charm it, what’s the use of being a snake charmer? |
12Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. | 12Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. |
13Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; | 13Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness; |
14they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future. | 14they chatter on and on. No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future. |
15Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home. | 15Fools are so exhausted by a little work that they can’t even find their way home. |
16What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning. | 16What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant, the land whose leaders feast in the morning. |
17Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk. | 17Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader and whose leaders feast at the proper time to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk. |
18Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house. | 18Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house. |
19A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything! | 19A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything! |
20Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said. | 20Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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