Wisdom and Folly 1 Brenton Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: and a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly. BSB BSB: As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Brenton A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. BSB BSB: A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Brenton Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly. BSB BSB: Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Brenton If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences. BSB BSB: If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Brenton There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler. BSB BSB: There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Brenton The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one. BSB BSB: Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Brenton I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth. BSB BSB: I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Brenton He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Brenton He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby. BSB BSB: The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Brenton If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man. BSB BSB: If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Brenton If a serpent bite when there is no charmer's whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer. BSB BSB: If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Brenton The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up. BSB BSB: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Brenton The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness. BSB BSB: The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Brenton A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him? BSB BSB: Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Brenton The labour of fools will afflict them, as that of one who knows not to go to the city. BSB BSB: The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Brenton Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning! BSB BSB: Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Brenton Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed. BSB BSB: Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Brenton By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces. BSB BSB: Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Brenton Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience. BSB BSB: A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Brenton Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech. BSB BSB: Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.