Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow; 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 thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty; But a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
Consider the heaviness of a stone and the weight of sand— the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger overwhelming; 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 rebuke Than love kept concealed.
Better is an open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Faithful are the wounds caused by a friend, but an enemy may kiss you profusely.
7 He who is fed to the full loatheth the honeycomb; But to the hungry any 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 from its nest, So is a man who wandereth from his place.
Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who strays from where he lives.
9 Oil and perfume gladden the heart; Sweet also is one's friend by hearty counsel.
Perfume and incense make the heart rejoice, but the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere counsel.
10 Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not; And go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
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 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, 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 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; 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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
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 He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.
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 in a very rainy day And a quarrelsome wife are alike.
A quarreling wife is like the constant dripping on a rainy day;
16 He who restraineth her restraineth the wind; And his right hand layeth hold of oil.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or trying to catch oil in your right hand.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So one man sharpeneth the face of another.
Iron sharpens iron; in the same way, a man sharpens his friend.
18 He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.
The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and the one who protects his master will be honored.
19 As in water face answereth to face, So doth the heart of man to man.
Just as water reflects a person's face, so a person's heart reflects the person.
Just as Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so a man's eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him 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 beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.
Even if you crush a fool with the pestle—along with the grain— yet his foolishness will not leave him.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds!
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks and be concerned about your herds,
24 For riches last not for ever; Not even a crown endureth from generation to generation.
for wealth is not forever. Does a crown endure for all generations?
25 The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.
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 lambs are thy clothing, And the goats the price of thy field.
Those lambs will provide your clothing and the goats will provide the price of the field.
27 There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.
There will be goats' milk for your food—the food for your household— and nourishment for your servant girls.
