Wisdom and Folly 1 UEB As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor. BSB BSB: As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 UEB The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left. BSB BSB: A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 UEB When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool. BSB BSB: Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 UEB If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage. BSB BSB: If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 UEB There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler: BSB BSB: There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 UEB Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions. BSB BSB: Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 UEB I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground. BSB BSB: I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 UEB Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 UEB Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it. BSB BSB: The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 UEB If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success. BSB BSB: If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 UEB If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. BSB BSB: If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 UEB The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. BSB BSB: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 UEB As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness. BSB BSB: The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 UEB A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming 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 UEB The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town. BSB BSB: The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 UEB Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning! BSB BSB: Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 UEB But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 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 UEB Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks. BSB BSB: Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 UEB People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need for everything. BSB BSB: A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 UEB Do not curse the king, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter. 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.