| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. | 2A wise person's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. |
| 3Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. | 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 rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. | 4If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your post, for calmness puts great offenses to rest. |
| 5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler: |
| 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. | 6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. | 7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. |
| 8He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. | 8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. |
| 9He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. | 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them. |
| 10If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. | 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 serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. | 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. | 12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. | 13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness; |
| 14A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? | 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 fool wearies him, for he does not 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 a child, and your princes feast in the morning! | 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for 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. |
| 18Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. | 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. |
| 19Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. | 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. |
| 20Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter. | 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. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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