Proverbs 27
1 Do not boast thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.
2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Heavy is a stone, and weighty is sand, —but, the vexation of a fool, is heavier than both.
A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both.
4 The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?
Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?
5 Better is a rebuke that is open, than love carefully concealed.
An open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but lavished are the kisses of an enemy.
The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.
7 The surfeited soul, trampleth upon droppings from the comb, but, to the hungry soul, every bitter thing, is sweet.
A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.
8 As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.
Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place.
9 Oil and perfume, rejoice the heart, the sweetness of one’s friend, more than fragrant wood.
Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul.
10 Thine own friend and thy father’s friend, do not thou forsake; but, the house of thy brother, do not enter, in thy day of calamity, Better a neighbour near, than a brother far off.
Do not dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.
11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me in a matter.
My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches.
12 A prudent man, seeth calamity—he hideth himself, the simple, pass on—they suffer.
The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.
13 Take a man’s garment when he hath become pledge for a stranger, then, for a female unknown, accept him as surety.
Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners.
14 He that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, in the morning early, a reproach, shall it be reckoned to him.
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses.
15 A continuous dripping on a day of downpour, and a contentious wife, are alike:
A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable.
16 He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.
He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand.
17 Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 He that guardeth the fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof, and, he that watcheth over his master, shall be honoured.
Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified.
19 As in water, face [answereth] to face, so, the heart of man to man.
In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.
20 Hades and destruction, are not satisfied, and, the eyes of a man, are not satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable. (Sheol h7585)
21 Fining pot for silver, and crucible for gold, and, a man, [is to be tried] by what he praiseth.
In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge.
22 Though thou pound a fool in a mortar, amidst grain, with a pestle, his folly, will not depart from him.
Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken from him.
23 Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds;
Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks,
24 For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation: —
for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation.
25 The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered;
The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains.
26 There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats;
Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field.
27 With, enough goats-milk, for thy food—for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.
Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids.
