^†Dead flies cause the ointment of the ^aapothecary to ^bsend forth a stinking savour: so doth a little ^cfolly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

²A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. ³Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, ^†his wisdom faileth him, and ^dhe saith to every one that he is a fool.

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Footnotes

†Heb. Flies of death.
aSee Ex. 30:25.
bSee Ps. 145:7.
cSee ch. 2:3.
†Heb. his heart. See Prov. 6:32.
dSee Prov. 18:2.

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,

and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

Even as fools walk along the road,

they lack sense

and show everyone how stupid they are.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

A wise person’s heart goes to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,

and he shows everyone he is a fool.

NLTNew Living Translation

As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,

so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

A wise person chooses the right road;

a fool takes the wrong one.

You can identify fools

just by the way they walk down the street!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Dead flies cause a bad smell and ruin the ointment of the perfumer.

So also a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

The heart of the wise inclines to his right,

but the heart of the fool inclines to his left.

Even when the fool walks along the road, he lacks sense;

he tells everyone that he is a fool.