Welcome to our website where we explore the Bible! Pleasure to meet you here!
May your journey into the world of the Holy Scriptures be engaging and inspiring!
You can change reading language: uk ru
Parallel
New International Version
New Living Translation
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,
so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.
so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
but the heart of the fool to the left.
A wise person chooses the right road;
a fool takes the wrong one.
a fool takes the wrong one.
Even as fools walk along the road,
they lack sense
and show everyone how stupid they are.
they lack sense
and show everyone how stupid they are.
You can identify fools
just by the way they walk down the street!
just by the way they walk down the street!
If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit!
A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
The Ironies of Life
There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake
Fools are put in many high positions,
while the rich occupy the low ones.
while the rich occupy the low ones.
when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.
I have seen slaves on horseback,
while princes go on foot like slaves.
while princes go on foot like slaves.
I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes — and princes walking like servants!
Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
When you dig a well,
you might fall in.
When you demolish an old wall,
you could be bitten by a snake.
you might fall in.
When you demolish an old wall,
you could be bitten by a snake.
Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.
When you work in a quarry,
stones might fall and crush you.
When you chop wood,
there is danger with each stroke of your ax.
stones might fall and crush you.
When you chop wood,
there is danger with each stroke of your ax.
If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
Using a dull ax requires great strength,
so sharpen the blade.
That’s the value of wisdom;
it helps you succeed.
so sharpen the blade.
That’s the value of wisdom;
it helps you succeed.
If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.
the charmer receives no fee.
If a snake bites before you charm it,
what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
what’s the use of being a snake charmer?
Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
but fools are consumed by their own lips.
Wise words bring approval,
but fools are destroyed by their own words.
but fools are destroyed by their own words.
At the beginning their words are folly;
at the end they are wicked madness —
at the end they are wicked madness —
Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions,
so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
and fools multiply words.
No one knows what is coming —
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
No one knows what is coming —
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
they chatter on and on.
No one really knows what is going to happen;
no one can predict the future.
No one really knows what is going to happen;
no one can predict the future.
The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
they do not know the way to town.
Fools are so exhausted by a little work
that they can’t even find their way home.
that they can’t even find their way home.
Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
and whose princes eat at a proper time —
for strength and not for drunkenness.
and whose princes eat at a proper time —
for strength and not for drunkenness.
Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader
and whose leaders feast at the proper time
to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.
and whose leaders feast at the proper time
to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.
Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.
because of idle hands, the house leaks.
Laziness leads to a sagging roof;
idleness leads to a leaky house.
idleness leads to a leaky house.
A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.
A party gives laughter,
wine gives happiness,
and money gives everything!
wine gives happiness,
and money gives everything!
Do 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.
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.
Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts.
And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.
For a little bird might deliver your message
and tell them what you said.
And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.
For a little bird might deliver your message
and tell them what you said.