Proverbs 27:17–28:6

17  Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.4

18  rWhoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who sguards his master will be honored.

19  As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

20  tSheol and Abaddon are unever satisfied,

and vnever satisfied are the eyes of man.

21  wThe crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and a man is tested by his praise.

22  xCrush a fool in a mortar with a pestle

along with crushed grain,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

23  yKnow well the condition of your flocks,

and ygive attention to your herds,

24  for zriches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

25  aWhen the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

26  bthe lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

27  bThere will be enough goats’ milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.

28 cThe wicked flee when no one pursues,

but dthe righteous are bold as a lion.

2  When a land transgresses, eit has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

3  fA poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4  Those who forsake the law gpraise the wicked,

but those who keep the law hstrive against them.

5  Evil men ido not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord junderstand it completely.

6  kBetter is a poor man who lwalks in his integrity

than a rich man who is lcrooked in his ways.