All About Life

1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

1 (A)Do not boast about tomorrow,For you (B)do not know what a day may bring forth.

1 Don’t boast about tomorrow,for you don’t know what a day might bring.(A)

1 Never brag about the day to come, because you don't know what it might bring.

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,For you do not know what a day may bring.(A)

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

2 Let (C)another praise you, and not your own mouth;A stranger, and not your own lips.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.(B)

2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth; a stranger, and never your own lips.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;A stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

3 A stone is heavy and sand, a burden,but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

3 Rocks are heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation outweighs them both.

3 Stone is heavy and the sand weighty,But a fool’s [unreasonable] wrath is heavier and more burdensome than both of them.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,But (D)who can stand before jealousy?

4 Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,but who can withstand jealousy?(C)

4 Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms but who can stand up to jealousy?

4 Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood,But who is able to endure and stand before [the sin of] jealousy?

5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

5 Better is (E)open rebukeThan love that is concealed.

5 Better an open reprimandthan concealed love.(D)

5 An open rebuke is better than unspoken love.

5 Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]Than love that is hidden.(B)

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

6 Faithful are the (F)wounds of a friend,But (a)deceitful are the (G)kisses of an enemy.

6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,(E)but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.(F)

6 Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy, but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].

7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

7 A sated (b)man (c)loathes honey,But to a famished (d)man any bitter thing is sweet.

7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,(G)but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

7 The person who is full spurns honey, but to a hungry person even the bitter seems sweet.

7 He who is satisfied loathes honey,But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

8 Like a (H)bird that wanders from her nest,So is a man who (I)wanders from his (e)home.

8 A man wandering from his homeis like a bird wandering from its nest.(H)

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders away from his home.

8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],So is a man who wanders from his home.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

9 (J)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,So a (f)man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

9 Oil(I) and incense bring joy to the heart,and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.(a)

9 Ointments and perfume encourage the heart; in a similar way, a friend's advice is sweet to the soul.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad;So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

10 Do not forsake your own (K)friend or (L)your father’s friend,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 far away.

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,(J)and don’t go to your brother’s housein your time of calamity;better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.(K)

10 Never abandon your friend nor your father's friend, and don't go to your brother's house in times of trouble. A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who lives far away.

10 Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.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 that reproacheth me.

11 (M)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,That I may (N)reply to him who reproaches me.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,(L)so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.(M)

11 Be wise, my son, and make me happy, so I can reply to anyone who insults me.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.(C)

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

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,The (g)naive proceed and pay the penalty.

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;the inexperienced keep going and are punished.(N)

12 Those who are prudent see danger and take refuge, but the naive continue on and suffer the consequences.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it,But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].(D)

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

13 (O)Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;And for an (h)adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

13 Take his garment,(b)for he has put up security for a stranger;get collateral if it is for foreigners.(c)(O)

13 Take the coat of anyone who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he cosigns for an immoral woman.

13 [The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger;And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].”(E)

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

14 (P)He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,It will be reckoned a curse to him.

14 If one blesses his neighborwith a loud voice early in the morning,it will be counted as a curse to him.

14 A friend's loud blessing early in the morning will be thought of as a curse.

14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

15 A (Q)constant dripping on a day of steady rainAnd a contentious woman are alike;

15 An endless dripping on a rainy dayand a nagging wife are alike.(P)

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike.

15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rainAnd a contentious (quarrelsome) woman are alike;(F)

16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

16 He who would (i)restrain her (j)restrains the wind,And (k)grasps oil with his right hand.

16 The one who controls her controls the windand grasps oil with his right hand.

16 Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm or grabbing oil with your right hand.

16 Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind,And grasps oil with his right hand.

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

17 Iron sharpens iron,So one man sharpens another.

17 Iron sharpens iron,and one man sharpens another.(d)

17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens a friend's character.

17 As iron sharpens iron,So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

18 He who tends the (R)fig tree will eat its fruit,And he who (S)cares for his master will be honored.

18 Whoever tends a fig tree(Q) will eat its fruit,(R)and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

18 Whoever nurtures the fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever obeys his master will be honored.

18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.(G)

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

19 As in water face reflects face,So the heart of man reflects man.

19 As water reflects the face,so the heart reflects the person.

19 Just as water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.

19 As in water face reflects face,So the heart of man reflects man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

20 (l)(T)Sheol and (m)Abaddon are (U)never satisfied,Nor are the (V)eyes of man ever satisfied.

20 Sheol and Abaddon(S) are never satisfied,(T)and people’s eyes are never satisfied.(U)

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satiated, and neither are human eyes.

20 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the underworld) are never satisfied;Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.(H)

21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

21 The (W)crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,And each (X)is tested by the praise accorded him.

21 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,and a man for the words of his praise.(e)(V)

21 As the crucible tests silver, and the furnace assays gold; so praise received tests a man.

21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal],And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud].

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

22 Though you (Y)pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

22 Though you grind a foolin a mortar with a pestle along with grain,you will not separate his foolishness from him.(W)

22 Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle as someone might crush grain, his stupidity still won't leave him.

22 Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain,Yet his foolishness will not leave him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

23 (Z)Know well the (n)condition of your flocks,And pay attention to your herds;

23 Know well the condition of your flock,(X)and pay attention to your herds,

23 Keep well informed of the condition of your flocks and pay attention to your herds,

23 Be diligent to know the condition of your flocks,And pay attention to your herds;

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

24 For riches are not forever,Nor does a (AA)crown endure to all generations.

24 for wealth is not forever;(Y)not even a crown lasts for all time.

24 because riches don't endure forever, and crowns don't last from one generation to the next.

24 For riches are not forever,Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,And the herbs of the mountains are (AB)gathered in,

25 When hay is removed and new growth appearsand the grain from the hills is gathered in,

25 When the grass disappears, and new growth appears, the mountain spices will be harvested,

25 When the grass is gone, the new growth is seen,And herbs of the mountain are gathered in,

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

26 The lambs will be for your clothing,And the goats will bring the price of a field,

26 lambs will provide your clothing,and goats, the price of a field;

26 the lambs will supply your clothing, and your goats the price of a field.

26 The lambs will supply wool for your clothing,And the goats will bring the price of a field.

27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,For the food of your household,And sustenance for your maidens.

27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—food for your householdand nourishment for your female servants.(Z) >

27 You will have enough goat's milk to drink and to supply your household needs, as well as sustenance for your servant girls.

27 And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,For the food of your household,And for the maintenance of your maids.

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