Proverbs 27
1 Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; 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 thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
3 A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
Consider the heaviness of a stone and the weight of sand— the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.
4 Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
There is the cruelty of rage and the flood of anger, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open reproof than concealed love.
Better is an open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
Faithful are the wounds caused by a friend, but an enemy may kiss you profusely.
7 The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
A person who has eaten to the full rejects even a honeycomb, but to the hungry person, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who strays from where he lives.
9 Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
Perfume and incense make the heart rejoice, but the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere counsel.
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.
Do not forsake your friend and your friend's father, and do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than a brother who is far away.
11 Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice; then I will give back an answer to the one who mocks me.
12 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive people go on and suffer because of it.
13 Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
14 When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
Whoever gives his neighbor a blessing with a loud voice early in the morning, that blessing will be considered to be a curse!
15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
A quarreling wife is like the constant dripping on a rainy day;
16 He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or trying to catch oil in your right hand.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; in the same way, a man sharpens his friend.
18 Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and the one who protects his master will be honored.
19 As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
Just as water reflects a person's face, so a person's heart reflects the person.
20 The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
Just as Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so a man's eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 [As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold; and a person is tested when he is praised.
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.
Even if you crush a fool with the pestle—along with the grain— yet his foolishness will not leave him.
23 Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks and be concerned about your herds,
24 For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
for wealth is not forever. Does a crown endure for all generations?
25 When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
You should know when the hay is gone and the new growth appears, and the time when the grass from the hills is gathered in.
26 The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
Those lambs will provide your clothing and the goats will provide the price of the field.
27 And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
There will be goats' milk for your food—the food for your household— and nourishment for your servant girls.
