New International Version (NIV)
1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Ecclesiastes 10:1 in 10 English translations. Each links through to the full chapter for context.
New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020)
1Dead flies turn a perfumer’s oil rancid, so a little foolishness is more potent than wisdom and honor.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
1Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
1As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
American Standard Version (ASV)
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
1Dead 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.
World English Bible, American English Edition, without Strong's Numbers (WEBUS)
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor;
so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
1Dead flies give perfume a bad smell.
And a little foolishness can make a lot of wisdom useless.
EasyEnglish Bible 2024 (EASY)
1A 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.
Literal Standard Version (LSV)
1Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume || To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!