Proverbs 27
1 Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let your neighbor, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Open reproofs are better than secret love.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 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.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
10 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.
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 Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 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.
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honored.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 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)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 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.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26 that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 [My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
