| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom. | 1Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. |
| 2A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. | 2A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left. |
| 3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is. | 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. |
| 4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses. | 4If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. |
| 5I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes. | 5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler-- |
| 6Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions. | 6folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. |
| 7I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves. | 7I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. |
| 8One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. | 8He who digs a pit may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a wall. |
| 9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them. | 9He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. |
| 10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success. | 10If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. |
| 11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble. | 11If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 12The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive. | 12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; |
| 13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, | 13the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness. |
| 14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future? | 14Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him? |
| 15The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city. | 15The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city. |
| 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning! | 16Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. |
| 17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time--with self-control and not in drunkenness. | 17Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time-- for strength and not for drunkenness. |
| 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. | 18Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks. |
| 19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything. | 19Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. |
| 20Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words. | 20Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known. |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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