Proverbs 27:16 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

English ASV

He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.

English Amplified

Whoever attempts to restrain [a contentious woman] might as well try to stop the wind--his right hand encounters oil [and she slips through his fingers].

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Whoever attempts to restrain [a contentious woman] might as well try to stop the wind–his right hand encounters oil [and she slips through his fingers].

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

the one who controls her controls the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

English EASY 2024

Can you catch the wind? Can you hold oil in your hand? No! And you cannot keep that woman quiet.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold oil in your hand.

to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

How can you keep her quiet? Have you ever tried to stop the wind or ever tried to hold a handful of oil?

English God's Word - GW 1995

Whoever can control her can control the wind. He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

The one who controls her controls the wind and grasps oil with his right hand.

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

to restrain her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in the right hand.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

He who keeps her stores up a stormwind; he cannot tell north from south.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

Whoever hides her hides the wind or grasps oil with his right hand.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind. It's like trying to grab oil with your hand.

English NIV

restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

English NKJ 1982

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

English NLT

Trying to stop her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or hold something with greased hands.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in the right hand.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

Can you stop the north wind from blowing or grasp a handful of oil? That’s easier than to stop her from complaining.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

You can no more stop her complaints than you can stop the wind or hold onto anything with oil-slick hands.

English Tyndale 1537

He that refraineth her, refraineth the wind, and holdeth oil fast in his hand.

Proverbs 27:16 — Compare Translations