Proverbs 27
1 Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open reproof than concealed love.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20 The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 [As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
