Proverbs 27
1 Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
10 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 neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.
Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honoured.
Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered,
26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
