Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
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.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26 The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
