Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
1
Do not brag about tomorrow, because you do not know what another day may bring.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
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Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth, from a stranger and not from your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
3
A stone is heavy, and sand weighs a lot, but annoyance caused by a stubborn fool is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming; but who can stand before jealousy?
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Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming, but who can survive jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
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Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
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Wounds made by a friend are intended to help, but an enemy's kisses are too much to bear.
7 He who is sated loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
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One who is full despises honey, but to one who is hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest, is a man who strays from his home.
8
Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a husband wandering from his home.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, but the soul is torn by trouble.
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Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.
10 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.
10
Do not abandon your friend or your father's friend. Do not go to a relative's home when you are in trouble. A neighbor living nearby is better than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, 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 so that I can answer anyone who criticizes me.
12 A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
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Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. Gullible people go ahead [and] suffer.
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.
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Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger's loan, and hold responsible the person who makes a loan in behalf of a foreigner.
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
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Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice-- his blessing is considered a curse.
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
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Constantly dripping water on a rainy day is like a quarreling woman.
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in his right hand.
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Whoever can control her can control the wind. He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
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[As] iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.
18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
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Whoever takes care of a fig tree can eat its fruit, and whoever protects his master is honored.
19 As in water face answers to face, so the mind of man reflects the man.
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As a face is reflected in water, so a person is reflected by his heart.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
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Hell and decay are never satisfied, and a person's eyes are never satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is judged by his praise.
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The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but a person [is tested] by the praise given to him.
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
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If you crush a stubborn fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, [even then] his stupidity will not leave him.
23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds;
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Be fully aware of the condition of your flock, and pay close attention to your herds.
24 for riches do not last for ever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
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Wealth is not forever. Nor does a crown last from one generation to the next.
25 When the grass is gone, and the new growth appears, and the herbage of the mountains is gathered,
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[When] grass is cut short, the tender growth appears, and vegetables are gathered on the hills.
26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field;
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Lambs [will provide] you with clothing, and the money from the male goats will buy a field.
27 there will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your maidens.
27
There will be enough goat milk to feed you, to feed your family, and to keep your servant girls alive.
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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.