Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
12 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
12
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
13
Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
14
If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
15
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in his right hand.
16
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
18
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19 As in water face answers to face, so the mind of man reflects the man.
19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
20
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is judged by his praise.
21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.