Proverbs 27
1 Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine 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 the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; 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 hidden love.
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
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 neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (Sheol h7585)
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
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 thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;
24 for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for 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.
And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
