Chapter text
World English Bible
Verse-by-verse text with stable anchors, canonical chapter URLs, and copyable verse links.
- 1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
- 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
- 3 Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
- 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
- 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
- 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
- 7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
- 8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
- 9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
- 10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
- 11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
- 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
- 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
- 14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
- 15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
- 16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
- 17 Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
- 18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
- 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
- 20 Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.