אִם־קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ לֹא־פָנִ֣ים קִלְקַ֔ל וַחֲיָלִ֖ים יְגַבֵּ֑ר וְיִתְר֥וֹן הכשיר [הַכְשֵׁ֖ר] חָכְמָֽה׃
Sekalipun besi itu tumpul dan permukaannya tidak diasah, ia tetap menguatkan para pejuang; dan hikmat lebih unggul lagi dalam kegunaannya.
Taanit
Rav Ami also said, "What does it mean, 'If the iron be blunt, then it is not damaged on the surface?' If you have seen a sky as blunt as iron, [shut up] from giving dew and rain, it is because of the deeds of the generation, that they secretly damage [society], as it says, 'it is not damaged on the surface.'
Taanit
"How do they fix it? They should increase in mercy, as is says (in the continuation of the last verse), 'Then one should increase strength, and the direction of wisdom is profitable'. If they had acted in a proper manner originally [then they would not need mercy]."