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.
ASVDead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
DRADying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
FBVDead flies can make perfumed oil smell bad. Likewise a little foolishness outweighs great wisdom and honor.
GNVDead flies cause to stinke, and putrifie the ointment of the apoticarie: so doeth a litle follie him that is in estimation for wisedome, and for glorie.
JPSDead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
LSVDead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume || To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
NASBDead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom and honor.NASB 2020
NIV (US)As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
NIV (UK)As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
NMVDead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so does] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.
OJBDead flies cause the perfumerʼs shemen to send forth a foul odor; so doth a little sichlut outweigh chochmah and kavod.
RVDead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
T4TA few dead flies in a bottle of perfume cause all the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.