Proverbs 27
1 Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Open criticism is better than hidden love.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
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 Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Don't give up on your friends or your family's friends. Don't go to a relative's house when you've got trouble. A friend nearby is more useful than a relative far away.
Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; and when you are in distress go not into your brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to an immoral woman!
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
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 Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
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)
21 Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
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 Even if you ground stupid people in a mortar, crushing them like grain with the pestle, you can't get rid of stupidity from them.
Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
