27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might 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 a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

⁴ Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?^(C)

⁵ Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.^(D)

⁶ The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,^(E)
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.^(F)

⁷ A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,^(G)
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ Anyone wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.^(H)

⁹ Oil^(I) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.^[a]

¹⁰ Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,^(J)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbour nearby than a brother far away.^(K)

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,^(L)
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.^(M)

¹² A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^(N)

¹³ Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.^[b](O)

¹⁴ If one blesses his neighbour
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.

¹⁵ An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike;^(P)
16 the one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
and one person sharpens another.^[c]

¹⁸ Whoever tends a fig tree^(Q) will eat its fruit,^(R)
and whoever looks after his master will be honoured.

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon^(S) are never satisfied,^(T)
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.^(U)

²¹ As a crucible refines silver,
and a smelter refines gold,
so a person should refine his praise.^(V)

²² Though you grind a fool
in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
you will not separate his foolishness from him.^(W)

²³ Know well the condition of your flock,^(X)
and pay attention to your herds,
²⁴ for wealth is not for ever;^(Y)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
²⁵ When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the corn from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
²⁷ there will be enough goat’s milk for your food –
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.^(Z)