Ecclesiastes 10:1 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

Dead flies cause a perfumer`s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom -- By reason of honour -- a little folly!

English ASV

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

English Amplified

DEAD FLIES cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy [and] send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly [in him who is valued for wisdom] outweigh wisdom and honor.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

DEAD FLIES cause the ointment of the perfumer to putrefy [and] send forth a vile odor; so does a little folly [in him who is valued for wisdom] outweigh wisdom and honor.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.

English EASY 2024

A few dead flies in a bottle of perfume cause it to have a bad smell. In the same way, one foolish thing can destroy a lot of wisdom.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

A few dead flies will make even the best perfume stink. In the same way, a little foolishness can ruin much wisdom and honor.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink, and a little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Dead flies will make a bottle of perfume stink, and then it is spoiled. A little foolishness outweighs wisdom {and} honor.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English KJV 1611

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

English LSB

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little simpleminded folly is weightier than wisdom and honor.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Dead flies cause the perfumer’s ointment to give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Dead flies give perfume a bad smell. And a little foolishness can make a lot of wisdom useless.

English NIV

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English NKJ 1982

Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

English NLT

Dead flies will cause even a bottle of perfume to stink! Yes, an ounce of foolishness can outweigh a pound of wisdom and honor.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

Dead flies will cause even a bottle of perfume to stink! Yes, a small mistake can outweigh much wisdom and honor.

English Tyndale 1537

Dead flies that corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink, are something more worth than the wisdom and honor of a fool.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 — Compare Translations