| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 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. | 1As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of 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 tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his 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. | 3Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool. |
| 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. | 4If your overseer gets angry at you, don't resign, because calmness pacifies great offenses. |
| 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: | 5Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer: |
| 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. | 6Foolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places. |
| 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. | 7And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants. |
| 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. | 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite. |
| 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. | 9Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger. |
| 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 someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success. |
| 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. | 11If a serpent strikes despite being charmed, there's no point in being a snake charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | 12The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him. |
| 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. | 13He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with 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? | 14The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it? |
| 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. | 15The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town. |
| 16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! | 16Woe to the land whose king is a youth and whose 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! | 17That land is blessed whose king is of noble birth, whose princes feast at the right time, for strength, and not to become drunk. |
| 18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. | 18Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness. |
| 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. | 19Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to 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. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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