Proverbs 27

1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Boast not for tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day to come may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy 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 weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than them both.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

Anger hath no mercy, nor fury when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked?

5 Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.

Open rebuke is better than hidden love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.

Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy.

7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.

10 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.

Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend forsake not: and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother afar off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.

Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.

The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.

Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and take from him a pledge for strangers.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, shall be like to him that curseth.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;

Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman are alike.

16 He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.

He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call in the oil of his right hand.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so-the hearts of men are laid open to the wise.

20 The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (Sheol h7585)

Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)

21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.

As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;

Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks:

24 For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?

For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation.

25 When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;

The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains.

26 The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.

Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field.

27 And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.

Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids.