Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, For thou knowest not what a day bringeth 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 A stone [is] heavy, and the sand [is] heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they 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 Fury [is] fierce, and anger [is] overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Better [is] open reproof than hidden love.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And [to] a 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 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend — from counsel of the soul.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
10 Thine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better [is] a near neighbour than a brother afar 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. And I return my reproacher a word.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.
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 his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.
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 Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is 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 continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens 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 The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 As [in] water the face [is] to face, So the heart of man to man.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things — with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off 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 Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 For riches [are] not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 Lambs [are] for thy clothing, And the price of the field [are] he-goats,
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 And a sufficiency of goats' milk [is] for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
