Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest 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 thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine 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 vexation 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 jealousy?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 The full soul loatheth 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 wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth 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 doth the sweetness of a man’s friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: 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 neighbor 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 reproacheth me.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself: [but] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a strange woman.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
He who blesses his neighbor 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 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 As in water face [answereth] 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 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is [tried] by his praise.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among bruised corn, 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 thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds:
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for thy 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 [there will be] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
