Proverbs 27
1 Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth!
2 Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty; But a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
Wrath is cruel, and anger overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open criticism is better than hidden love.
Better is open rebuke Than love kept concealed.
6 A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
He who is fed to the full loatheth the honeycomb; But to the hungry any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
As a bird that wandereth from its nest, So is a man who wandereth from his place.
9 Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
Oil and perfume gladden the heart; Sweet also is one's friend by hearty counsel.
10 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.
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 neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
11 My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; The simple pass on, and are punished.
13 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!
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
14 If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.
15 An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a quarrelsome wife are alike.
16 Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
He who restraineth her restraineth the wind; And his right hand layeth hold of oil.
17 An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So one man sharpeneth the face of another.
18 Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.
19 Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
As in water face answereth to face, So doth the heart of man to man.
20 In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
The realms of the dead are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him praise.
22 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.
Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.
23 You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds!
24 for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
For riches last not for ever; Not even a crown endureth from generation to generation.
25 Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.
26 and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
The lambs are thy clothing, And the goats the price of thy field.
27 there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.
