Proverbs 27:8-20

English Standard Version

⁸ Like ^(A)a bird that strays from its nest
    is a man who strays from his home.
^9 (B)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
    and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.^[a]
10 Do not forsake your friend and ^(C)your father's friend,
    and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
^(D)Better is a neighbor who is near
    than a brother who is far away.
^11 (E)Be wise, ^(F)my son, and ^(G)make my heart glad,
    that I may ^(H)answer him who reproaches me.
^12 (I)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but ^(J)the simple go on and suffer for it.
^13 (K)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.^[b]
14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
    rising early in the morning,
    will be counted as cursing.
^15 (L)A continual dripping on a rainy day
    and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
¹⁶ to restrain her is to restrain the wind
    or to grasp^[c] oil in one's right hand.
¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.^[d]
18 (M)Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who ^(N)guards his master will be honored.
¹⁹ As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.
^20 (O)Sheol and Abaddon are ^(P)never satisfied,
    and ^(Q)never satisfied are the eyes of man.