Proverbs 27
1 Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Better is open reproof than concealed love.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his 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 Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
12 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
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 on a very rainy day 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 would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
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 the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never 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] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
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 shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
24 For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
27 And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
[My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
