Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
Better is open reproof than concealed love.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
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.
Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
14 If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on 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.
Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
[As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
24 for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
