Proverbs 27:11–18

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

that I may answer him who reproaches me.

12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.

14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,

And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,

And the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron;

So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:

So he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad.

Then I will be able to answer my critics.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.

Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning

will be taken as a curse!

15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying

as constant dripping on a rainy day.

16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind

or trying to hold something with greased hands.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so a friend sharpens a friend.

18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,

so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

11 My son, be wise, 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.

13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,

And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It will be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

16 Whoever restrains her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;

So he who waits on his master will be honored.

11 Be wise, my child, and make me happy.

Then I can respond to any insult.

12 The wise see danger ahead and avoid it,

but fools keep going and get into trouble.

13 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s loan,

and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes.

14 If you loudly greet your neighbor early in the morning,

he will think of it as a curse.

15 A quarreling wife is as bothersome

as a continual dripping on a rainy day.

16 Stopping her is like stopping the wind

or trying to grab oil in your hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so people can improve each other.

18 Whoever tends a fig tree gets to eat its fruit,

and whoever takes care of his master will receive honor.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike:

16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind;

And his right hand encountereth oil.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron;

So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof;

And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike: 16 whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

17 Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad 

so that I can answer anyone who criticizes me. 

12 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. 

Gullible people go ahead ⸤and⸥ suffer. 

13 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 Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice— 

his blessing is considered a curse. 

15 Constantly dripping water on a rainy day is like a quarreling woman. 

16 Whoever can control her can control the wind. 

He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand. 

17 ⸤As⸥ iron sharpens iron, 

so one person sharpens the wits of another. 

18 Whoever takes care of a fig tree can eat its fruit, 

and whoever protects his master is honored. 

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,

so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

13 Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners.

14 If one blesses his neighbor

with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

15 An endless dripping on a rainy day

and a nagging wife are alike.

16 The one who controls her controls the wind

and grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,

so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.

12 The clever see danger and hide,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;

seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

14 Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a contentious wife are alike;

16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp oil in the right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one person sharpens the wits of another.

18 Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,

and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

12 When the clever sees danger, he hides;

the simple go on and suffer.

13 Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger,

and to an adulteress—so take his pledge.

14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice

early in the morning,

a curse will be reckoned to him.

15 Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain

and a woman of contention are alike.

16 In restraining her, he restrains wind,

and his right hand will grasp oil.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens another.

18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

11 My child, be wise and bring joy to my heart.

Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me.

12 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.

But childish people keep on going and suffer for it.

13 Take the coat of one who puts up money for what a stranger owes.

Hold it until you get paid back if he does it for a woman who commits adultery.

14 Suppose you loudly bless your neighbor early in the morning.

Then you might as well be calling down a curse on him.

15 A nagging wife is like

dripping that never stops on a rainy day.

16 Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind.

It’s like trying to grab oil with your hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

18 A person who takes good care of a fig tree will eat its fruit.

And a person who looks after his master will be honored.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be reckoned a curse to him.

15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who cares for his master will be honored.