⁵There is a tragedy that I’ve seen under the sun, an error often made by rulers. ⁶Foolish people are often given high positions, and rich people are left to fill lower positions. ⁷I have seen slaves sitting on horses and influential people going on foot like slaves.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

Fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:

The fool is appointed to great heights,

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

I have seen slaves on horses,

but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

NLTNew Living Translation

There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

There is an evil I have seen under the sun—

it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!

The fool is set in many high places,

but the rich sit in lowly places.

I have even seen slaves riding on horses

and princes walking like slaves on the earth!

KJV 1900King James Version

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

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