Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than they both.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
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 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.
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 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [But] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a foreign woman.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:
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 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall 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 As in water face [answereth] to face, So the heart of man to man.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
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 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.
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 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from 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 thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [And] look well to thy herds:
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 For riches are not for ever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are 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 And [there will be] goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
