The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
17 Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.
17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18 Whoever keeps a fig-tree will have its fruit; and the servant waiting on his master will be honoured.
18
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19 Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one another.
19
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20 The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough.
20
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
21 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for.
21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22 Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still his foolish ways will not go 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.
23 Take care to have knowledge about the condition of your flocks, looking well after your herds;
23
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24 For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations.
24
for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and the mountain plants are got in.
25
When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make the value of a field:
26
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and for the support of your servant-girls.
27
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
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.