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. ‡

21 ^aThe refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him. ‡

22 ^aThough you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. ‡