5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6 Fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

7 I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

5 There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants!

5 There is something else wrong that happens here on earth.

It is the kind of mistake rulers make:

6 Fools are given important positions

while gifted people are given lower ones;

7 I have seen servants ride horses

while princes walk like servants on foot.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error that proceedeth from the ruler: 6 folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

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

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

6 The fool is appointed to great heights,

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

7 I have seen slaves on horses,

but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun—

it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!

6 The fool is set in many high places,

but the rich sit in lowly places.

7 I have even seen slaves riding on horses

and princes walking like slaves on the earth!

5 Here’s something evil I’ve seen on this earth.

And it’s the kind of mistake that rulers make.

6 Foolish people are given many important jobs.

Rich people are given unimportant ones.

7 I’ve seen slaves on horseback.

I’ve also seen princes who were forced to walk as if they were slaves.

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler—

6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.