American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
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Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.
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Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
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Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
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Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
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Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
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One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
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Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.
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Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.
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Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
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Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12 A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [But] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.
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The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a foreign woman.
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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 that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
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If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:
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A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.
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restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
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As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.
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The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19 As in water face [answereth] to face, So the heart of man to man.
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As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.
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Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.
21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.
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The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
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Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [And] look well to thy herds:
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Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
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for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
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When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;
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the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 And [there will be] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.
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You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants.
The American Standard Version 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.