Proverbs 27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.(A)
2 Let another praise you and not your own mouth,
a stranger and not your own lips.(B)
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.(C)
4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.(D)
6 Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,
but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
7 The sated appetite spurns honey,
but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.(E)
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest
is one who strays from home.
9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
but the soul is torn by trouble.[a]
10 Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent;
do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is nearby
than kindred who are far away.(F)
11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.(G)
12 The clever see danger and hide,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.(H)
13 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.[b](I)
14 Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing.
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike;(J)
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp oil in the right hand.[c]
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one person sharpens the wits[d] of another.
18 Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored.(K)
19 Just as water reflects the face,
so one human heart reflects another.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and human eyes are never satisfied.(L)
21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
so a person is tested[e] by being praised.(M)
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
but the folly will not be driven out.(N)
23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
and give attention to your herds,
24 for riches do not last forever,
nor a crown for all generations.(O)
25 When the grass is gone, and new growth appears,
and the herbage of the mountains is gathered,(P)
26 the lambs will provide your clothing,
and the goats the price of a field;
27 there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
for the food of your household
and nourishment for your female servants.
Proverbs 27
International Standard Version
General Counsel
27 Never brag about the day to come,
because you don’t know what it[a] might bring.
2 Let someone else praise you,
not your own mouth;
a stranger, and never your own lips.
3 Rocks are heavy,
and sand is weighty,
but a fool’s provocation outweighs them both.
4 Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms
but who can stand up to jealousy?
5 An open rebuke is better
than unspoken love.
6 Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy,
but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.[b]
7 The person[c] who is full spurns honey,
but to a hungry person even the bitter seems sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who wanders away from his home.[d]
9 Ointments and perfume encourage the heart;
in a similar way, a friend’s advice is sweet to the soul.[e]
10 Never abandon your friend nor your father’s friend,
and don’t go to your brother’s house in times of trouble.
A neighbor who is near is better
than a brother who lives far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and make me happy,
so I can reply to anyone who insults me.
12 Those who are prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the naïve continue on and suffer the consequences.
13 Take the coat of anyone who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he cosigns for an immoral woman.
14 A friend’s loud blessing early in the morning
will be thought of as a curse.
15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike.
16 Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm
or grabbing oil with your right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron;
so a man sharpens a friend’s character.[f]
18 Whoever nurtures the fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever obeys[g] his master will be honored.
19 Just as water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.
21 As the crucible tests[j] silver,
and the furnace assays[k] gold;
so praise received tests[l] a man.
22 Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle
as someone might crush grain,
his stupidity still won’t leave him.
23 Keep well informed of the condition of your flocks
and pay attention to your herds,
24 because riches don’t endure forever,
and crowns don’t last from one generation to the next.
25 When the grass disappears,
and new growth appears,
the mountain spices will be harvested,
26 the lambs will supply your clothing,
and your goats the price of a field.
27 You will have enough goat’s milk to drink
and to supply your household needs,
as well as sustenance for your servant girls.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:1 Lit. what a day
- Proverbs 27:6 Lit. enemy are profuse
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit. soul
- Proverbs 27:8 Lit. place
- Proverbs 27:9 So MT; LXX reads heart; but through misfortune the soul is torn apart
- Proverbs 27:17 Lit. countenance
- Proverbs 27:18 Lit. guards
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e. the realm of the dead
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e. the realm of destruction in the afterlife
- Proverbs 27:21 The Heb. lacks tests
- Proverbs 27:21 The Heb. lacks assays
- Proverbs 27:21 The Heb. lacks tests
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