Proverbs 27
1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring 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 weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than them 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 cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 The full soul trampleth on a honeycomb; but to the 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 that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth 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 is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far 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 make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 A prudent [man] seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; the simple pass on, [and] 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 that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.
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 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse 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 on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 As [in] water face [answereth] 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 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from 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 Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown [endure] from generation to generation?
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field;
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
