Tattoo an Caighdeán Oifigiúil
I am thinking about getting a tattoo in Irish as it is my heritage. I would like to use a beautiful Gaelic proverb and want to make sure it is translated correctly in an Caighdeán Oifigiúil. I want it to say:

A wave will rise on quiet water.

Is this correct?

"Beidh tonn ardú ar uisce ciúin."

Or should I use the older version:
"Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh."

Question

Tattoo an Caighdeán Oifigiúil
I am thinking about getting a tattoo in Irish as it is my heritage. I would like to use a beautiful Gaelic proverb and want to make sure it is translated correctly in an Caighdeán Oifigiúil. I want it to say:

A wave will rise on quiet water.

Is this correct?

"Beidh tonn ardú ar uisce ciúin."

Or should I use the older version:
"Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh."

Answer

The "older version" you have is actually modern Scottish Gaelic. I'm not sure if this Scottish proverb is known in Ireland, but it's easily understood anyway. Translated into Irish it would be "Éireoidh/éiríonn tonn ar uisce ciúin".
Scottish Gaelic "èiridh" corresponds to both the future tense "éireoidh" and the present habitual tense "éiríonn" in Irish. I think in the case of proverbs, the present habitual is more apt (using the future tense would imply a definite future action, rather than a tendency): "'Éiríonn tonn ar uisce ciúin".