Proverbs 27
1 Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another man 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 wrath is heavier than them both.
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 The full soul loathes an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; neither go into your brother's house in the day of your calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproaches me.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment that is guarantor for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 Whosoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which betrayed itself.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Whoso keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waits on his master shall be honoured.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answers to face, so the heart of man to man.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Though you should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 For riches are not for ever: and does the crown endure to every generation?
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidens.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
