Proverbs 27
World English Bible
27 Don’t boast about tomorrow;
for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Let another man praise you,
and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy,
and sand is a burden;
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel,
and anger is overwhelming;
but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful,
although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb;
but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart;
so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 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 Be wise, my son,
and bring joy to my heart,
then I can answer my tormentor.
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge;
but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger.
Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 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 rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike:
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind,
or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron;
so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.
He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 Like water reflects a face,
so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20 Sheol[a] and Abaddon are never satisfied;
and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver,
and the furnace for gold;
but man is refined by his praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Know well the state of your flocks,
and pay attention to your herds:
24 for riches are not forever,
nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,
the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
and the goats are the price of a field.
27 There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,
for your family’s food,
and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
Footnotes
- 27:20 Sheol is the place of the dead.
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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