Proverbs 27-28
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.
28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(Q)
2 When a land rebels
it has many rulers;
but with an intelligent[f] person, honesty endures.(R)
3 A poor person who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.(S)
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law struggle against them.(T)
5 The evil do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.(U)
6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity
than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich.(V)
7 Those who keep the law are wise children,
but companions of gluttons shame their parents.(W)
8 One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest
gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.(X)
9 When one will not listen to the law,
even one’s prayers are an abomination.(Y)
10 Those who mislead the upright into evil ways
will fall into pits of their own making,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.(Z)
11 The rich is wise in self-esteem,
but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.(AA)
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory,
but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.(AB)
13 No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,
but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.(AC)
14 Happy is the one who is never without fear,
but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.(AD)
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.(AE)
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.
17 If someone is burdened with the blood of another,
let that killer be a fugitive until death;
let no one offer assistance.(AF)
18 One who walks in integrity will be safe,
but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.[g](AG)
19 Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,
but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.(AH)
20 The faithful will abound with blessings,
but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.(AI)
21 To show partiality is not good,
yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.
22 The miser is in a hurry to get rich
and does not know that loss is sure to come.
23 Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
than one who flatters with the tongue.(AJ)
24 Anyone who robs father or mother
and says, “That is no crime,”
is partner to a thug.(AK)
25 The greedy person stirs up strife,
but whoever trusts in the Lord will be enriched.(AL)
26 Those who trust in their own wits are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.(AM)
28 When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.