< Proverbs 27 >
1 Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear 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.
9 The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
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.
11 Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
12 A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [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.
16 The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
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 )
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.
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.
23 Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
24 For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
27 [My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
