Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thy selfe of to morowe: for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let another man prayse thee, and not thine owne mouth: a stranger, and not thine owne lips.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heauie, and the sand weightie: but a fooles wrath is heauier then them both.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Anger is cruell, and wrath is raging: but who can stand before enuie?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Open rebuke is better then secret loue.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 The wounds of a louer are faithful, and the kisses of an enemie are pleasant.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 The person that is full, despiseth an hony combe: but vnto the hungry soule euery bitter thing is sweete.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest, so is a man that wandreth from his owne place.
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 As oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart, so doeth the sweetenes of a mans friend by hearty counsell.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend forsake thou not: neither enter into thy brothers house in the day of thy calamitie: for better is a neighbour that is neere, then a brother farre off.
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 sonne, be wise, and reioyce mine heart, that I may answere him that reprocheth me.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 He that prayseth his friend with a loude voyce, rising earely in the morning, it shall be counted to him 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 A continual dropping in the day of raine, and a contentious woman are alike.
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 He that hideth her, hideth the winde, and she is as ye oyle in his right hand, that vttereth it selfe.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Yron sharpeneth yron, so doeth man sharpen the face of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eate the fruite thereof: so he that waiteth vpon his master, shall come to honour.
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 in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 The graue and destruction can neuer be full, so the eyes of man can neuer be 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 As is the fining pot for siluer and the fornace for golde, so is euery man according to his dignitie.
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 shouldest bray a foole in a morter among wheate brayed with a pestell, yet will not his foolishnes depart from him.
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 Be diligent to know ye state of thy flocke, and take heede to the heardes.
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 For riches remaine not alway, nor the crowne from generation to generation.
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 The hey discouereth it selfe, and the grasse appeareth, and the herbes of the mountaines are gathered.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 The lambes are for thy clothing, and the goates are the price of the fielde.
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 And let the milke of the goates be sufficient for thy foode, for the foode of thy familie, and for the sustenance of thy maydes.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
