Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?
5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
An open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.
7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place.
9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice 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 dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches.
12 The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.
13 Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners.
14 If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses.
15 A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable.
16 restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified.
19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.
Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable. (Sheol h7585)
21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken from him.
23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks,
24 for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains.
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids.
