| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; 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 goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. |
| 3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one 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 spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. | 4If the ruler's anger rises against you, don't leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest. |
| 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth 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 great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. | 6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. |
| 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. | 7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves. |
| 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. | 8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. |
| 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. | 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits trees may be endangered by them. |
| 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. | 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. |
| 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. | 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | 12The words from the mouth of a wise man 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 mischievous madness. | 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. |
| 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? |
| 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. | 15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don't know how to go to the city. |
| 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! | 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, 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. |
| 18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. | 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. |
| 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. | 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. |
| 20Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall 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. |
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