Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
3 Heavy is a stone, and weighty is sand, —but, the vexation of a fool, is heavier than both.
Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
4 The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Better is a rebuke that is open, than love carefully concealed.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but lavished are the kisses of an enemy.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 The surfeited soul, trampleth upon droppings from the comb, but, to the hungry soul, every bitter thing, is sweet.
If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.
Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
9 Oil and perfume, rejoice the heart, the sweetness of one’s friend, more than fragrant wood.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
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.
Don't give up on your friends or your family's friends. Don't go to a relative's house when you've got trouble. A friend nearby is more useful than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me in a matter.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 A prudent man, seeth calamity—he hideth himself, the simple, pass on—they suffer.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
13 Take a man’s garment when he hath become pledge for a stranger, then, for a female unknown, accept him as surety.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to an immoral woman!
14 He that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, in the morning early, a reproach, shall it be reckoned to him.
If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
15 A continuous dripping on a day of downpour, and a contentious wife, are alike:
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 He that guardeth the fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof, and, he that watcheth over his master, shall be honoured.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 As in water, face [answereth] to face, so, the heart of man to man.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
20 Hades and destruction, are not satisfied, and, the eyes of a man, are not satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Fining pot for silver, and crucible for gold, and, a man, [is to be tried] by what he praiseth.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 Though thou pound a fool in a mortar, amidst grain, with a pestle, his folly, will not depart from him.
Even if you ground stupid people in a mortar, crushing them like grain with the pestle, you can't get rid of stupidity from them.
23 Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds;
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation: —
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered;
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats;
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 With, enough goats-milk, for thy food—for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
