Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Consider the heaviness of a stone and the weight of sand— the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 There is the cruelty of rage and the flood of anger, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Better is an open rebuke than hidden love.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds caused by a friend, but an enemy may kiss you profusely.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 A person who has eaten to the full rejects even a honeycomb, but to the hungry person, every bitter thing is sweet.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who strays from where he lives.
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 Perfume and incense make the heart rejoice, but the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere counsel.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 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.
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 make my heart rejoice; then I will give back an answer to the one who mocks me.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive people go on and suffer because of it.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 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.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Whoever gives his neighbor a blessing with a loud voice early in the morning, that blessing will be considered to be a curse!
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 A quarreling wife is like the constant dripping on a rainy day;
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 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or trying to catch oil in your right hand.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Iron sharpens iron; in the same way, a man sharpens his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and the one who protects his master will be honored.
He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Just as water reflects a person's face, so a person's heart reflects the person.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 Just as Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so a man's eyes are never 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 A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold; and a person is tested when he is praised.
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 Even if you crush a fool with the pestle—along with the grain— yet his foolishness will not leave 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 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks and be concerned about your herds,
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 for wealth is not forever. Does a crown endure for all generations?
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 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.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 Those lambs will provide your clothing and the goats will provide the price of the field.
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 There will be goats' milk for your food—the food for your household— and nourishment for your servant girls.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
