Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
A stone has great weight, and sand is crushing; but the wrath of the foolish is of greater weight than these.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?
5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
Better is open protest than love kept secret.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The wounds of a friend are given in good faith, but the kisses of a hater are false.
7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
Like a bird wandering from the place of her eggs is a man wandering from his station.
9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise suggestion of a friend is sweet to the soul.
10 Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Do not give up your friend and your father's friend; and do not go into your brother's house in the day of your trouble: better is a neighbour who is near than a brother far off.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to him who puts me to shame.
12 The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
13 Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
14 If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
He who gives a blessing to his friend with a loud voice, getting up early in the morning, will have it put to his account as a curse.
15 A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
Like an unending dropping on a day of rain is a bitter-tongued woman.
16 restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
He who keeps secret the secret of his friend, will get himself a name for good faith.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.
18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
Whoever keeps a fig-tree will have its fruit; and the servant waiting on his master will be honoured.
19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one another.
The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough. (Sheol h7585)
21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still his foolish ways will not go from him.
23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
Take care to have knowledge about the condition of your flocks, looking well after your herds;
24 for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and the mountain plants are got in.
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make the value of a field:
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and for the support of your servant-girls.
