17 Iron is whetted by iron; and a man whetteth the face of his friend. (Iron is sharpened by iron; and a man sharpeneth his friend’s mind.)
18 He that keepeth a fig tree (safe), shall eat the fruits thereof; and he that is a keeper of his lord, shall be glorified. (He who keepeth a fig tree safe, shall eat its fruits; and he who keepeth his lord safe, shall be honoured.)
19 As the cheers of men beholding (themselves) shine in waters; so the hearts of men be open to prudent men. (Like the faces of people beholding themselves shine in the water; so people’s hearts be open to prudent people.)
20 Hell and perdition shall not be filled; so and the eyes of men be not able to be (ful)filled. (Sheol, or the land of the dead, and perdition, or Hell and perdition, shall never be filled full; and the eyes, or the appetites, of people shall never be fulfilled, or satisfied.)
21 As silver is proved in a welling place, and gold is proved in a furnace; so a man is proved by the mouth of his praisers (or so a person is proved, or assayed, by the words of his praisers).