Proverbs 27
1 Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou know not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine 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 cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty, but a fool's vexation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open reproofs are better than secret love.
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
The full soul loathes a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.
9 The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart, so too the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
Forsake not thine own friend, and thy father's friend. And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far off.
11 Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself. The simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge who is surety for a strange woman.
14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be considered a curse to him.
15 On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day, and a contentious woman are alike.
16 The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and his right hand encounters oil.
17 Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
He who keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it, and he who regards his master shall be honored.
19 As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
As in water face is to face, so the heart of a man is to a man.
20 Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
22 Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
Though thou should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
For riches are not forever. And does the crown endure to all generations?
25 Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
The hay is carried, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the cost of the field.
27 [My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
And then will be goats' milk enough for thy food; for the food of thy household, and maintenance for thy maidens.
