Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Heavy is a stone, and weighty is sand, —but, the vexation of a fool, is heavier than both.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Better is a rebuke that is open, than love carefully concealed.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but lavished 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 surfeited soul, trampleth upon droppings from the comb, 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 wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering 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, rejoice the heart, the sweetness of one’s friend, more than fragrant wood.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Thine own friend and thy father’s friend, do not thou forsake; but, the house of thy brother, do not enter, in thy day of calamity, Better a neighbour near, than a brother far off.
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.
11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me in a matter.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 A prudent man, seeth calamity—he hideth himself, the simple, pass on—they suffer.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take a man’s garment when he hath become pledge for a stranger, then, for a female unknown, accept him as surety.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 He that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, in the morning early, a reproach, shall it be reckoned 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 continuous dripping on a day of downpour, and a contentious wife, 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 hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 He that guardeth the fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof, and, he that watcheth over his master, shall be honoured.
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 in water, face [answereth] to face, so, the heart of man to man.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 Hades and destruction, are not satisfied, and, the eyes of a man, are not 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 Fining pot for silver, and crucible for gold, and, a man, [is to be tried] by what he praiseth.
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 pound a fool in a mortar, amidst grain, with a pestle, his folly, will not depart from him.
Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds;
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation: —
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered;
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats;
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 With, enough goats-milk, for thy food—for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
