Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 10:1
American Standard Version
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; `so' doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Amplified® Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
A few dead flies in perfume make all of it stink, and a little foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom.
Darby English Version
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
Good News Bible
Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink, and a little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom.
King James Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom {and} honor.
New International Version
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
New King James Version
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.
N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness seems weightier than wisdom and honor.
Revised Standard Version
Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Young's Literal Translation
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!