Proverbs 27
1 Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine 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 cumbersome; but a fool's wrath 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 merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open reproofs are better than secret love.
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
6 The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.
7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 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.
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
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 Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.
12 A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
13 Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 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.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
16 The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
17 Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 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)
The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (Sheol h7585)
21 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.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
22 Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly 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 Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;
24 For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
25 Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
26 that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.
27 [My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.
And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
