27 Boast not thyself of [a]tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

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

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty: but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is raging: but who can stand before [b]envy?

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

The wounds of a lover are faithful, and the kisses of an enemy are [c]pleasant.

(A)The person that is full, despiseth an honeycomb: but unto the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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

As ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend and thy father’s friend forsake thou not: neither enter into thy brother’s [d]house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and rejoice mine heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 [e]A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himself: but the foolish go on still, and are punished.

13 (B)Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.

14 He that [f]praiseth his friend with a loud voice, rising [g]early in the morning, it shall be counted to him as a curse.

15 A (C)continual dropping in the day of rain, and a contentious woman are alike.

16 He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and she is as the oil in his right hand that uttereth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron, so doth [h]man sharpen the face of his friend.

18 He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honor.

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

20 The grave and destruction can never be full, so the eyes of man can never be satisfied.

21 (D)As is the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is every man according to his [j]dignity.

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

23 Be diligent to know the state of thy flock, and take heed to the herds.

24 For riches remain not always, nor the crown from generation to generation.

25 The hay discovereth itself, and the grass appeareth, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The [k]lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 And let the milk of the goats be sufficient for thy food, for the food of thy family, and for the sustenance of thy maids.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:1 Delay not the time, but take occasion when it is offered.
  2. Proverbs 27:4 For the envious are obstinate, and cannot be reconciled.
  3. Proverbs 27:6 They are flattering, and seem friendful.
  4. Proverbs 27:10 Trust not to any worldly help in the day of thy trouble.
  5. Proverbs 27:12 Read Prov. 22:3.
  6. Proverbs 27:14 Hebrew, blesseth.
  7. Proverbs 27:14 Hastily and without cause.
  8. Proverbs 27:17 One hasty man provoketh another to anger.
  9. Proverbs 27:19 There is no difference between man and man by nature, but only the grace of God maketh the difference.
  10. Proverbs 27:21 That is, he is either known to be ambitious, and glorious, or humble and modest.
  11. Proverbs 27:26 This declareth the great goodness of God towards man, and the diligence that he requireth of him for the preservation of his gifts.

27 Do not boast(A) about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.(B)

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.(C)

Stone is heavy and sand(D) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?(E)

Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.(F)

One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Like a bird that flees its nest(G)
    is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume(H) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(I) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(J)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(K)

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(L)

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(M)

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(N)
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(O)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(P)

19 As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,(Q)
    and neither are human eyes.(R)

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(S)
    but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
    grinding them like grain with a pestle,
    you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(T)
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(U)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
  2. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon