New International Version | International Standard Version |
1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. | 1As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor. |
2The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. | 2A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left. |
3Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are. | 3Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool. |
4If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. | 4If your overseer gets angry at you, don't resign, because calmness pacifies great offenses. |
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: | 5Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer: |
6Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. | 6Foolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places. |
7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves. | 7And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants. |
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. | 8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite. |
9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. | 9Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger. |
10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. | 10If someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success. |
11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee. | 11If a serpent strikes despite being charmed, there's no point in being a snake charmer. |
12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. | 12The words spoken by the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will devour him. |
13At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness-- | 13He begins his speech with foolishness, and concludes it with evil madness. |
14and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell someone else what will happen after them? | 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 toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town. | 15The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town. |
16Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. | 16Woe to the land whose king is a youth and whose princes feast in the morning. |
17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time-- 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. |
18Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks. | 18Through slothfulness the roof deteriorates, and a house leaks because of idleness. |
19A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. | 19Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to everything. |
20Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. | 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. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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