New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
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Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
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Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
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A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?
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Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming; but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.
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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 deceitful.
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Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
7 A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
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He who is sated loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.
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Like a bird that strays from its nest, is a man who strays from his home.
9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
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Oil and perfume make the heart glad, but the soul is torn by trouble.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, Nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
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Your friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake; and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me.
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Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.
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A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
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Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.
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He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;
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A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
16 Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.
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to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
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Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.
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He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man.
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As in water face answers to face, so the mind of man reflects the man.
20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
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Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.
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The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is judged by his praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
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Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds;
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Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
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for riches do not last for ever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
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When the grass is gone, and the new growth appears, and the herbage of the mountains is gathered,
26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field;
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the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field;
27 You shall have enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.
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there will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your maidens.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.