Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; 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 thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s vexation is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb: 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 from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend [that cometh] of hearty 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.
Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that 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, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself: [but] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.
13 Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a strange woman.
14 If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
A continual dropping in 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 restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth 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 keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
As in water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is [tried] by 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 shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among bruised corn, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds:
24 for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
The hay is carried, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field:
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
And [there will be] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
