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Proverbs 27:17
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15 A acontinual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike; 
16 Whoever1 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 aWhoever1 keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored. 
19 As in water face reflects face,
So a man’s heart reveals the man.
20 aHell1 and Destruction are never full;
So bthe eyes of man are never satisfied. 
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
<< Proverbs 27:16   Proverbs 27:18 >>


Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron - As hard iron, viz., steel, will bring a knife to a better edge when it is properly whetted against it: so one friend may be the means of exciting another to reflect, dive deeply into, and illustrate a subject, without which whetting or excitement, this had never taken place. Had Horace seen this proverb in the Septuagint translation when he wrote to the Pisos?

Ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum

Reddere quae ferrum valet, exors ipsa secandi .

Hor. Ars. Poet., ver. 304.

"But let me sharpen others, as the hone

Gives edge to razors, though itself have none."

Francis.


 
<< Proverbs 27:16   Proverbs 27:18 >>

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