Proverbs 27
1 BOAST not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
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.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
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!
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
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.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
