Proverbs 27

1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.footnote a

2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.footnote b

4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?footnote cfootnote d

5Open rebuke is better than secret love.

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.footnote e

7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.footnote f

8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.footnote g

10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.footnote h

21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.footnote i

24For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?footnote jfootnote k

25The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.footnote l

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow

1Do not boast about tomorrow,for you do not know what a day may bring.

2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.

3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood,but who can withstand jealousy?

5Better an open rebukethan love that is concealed.

6The wounds of a friend are faithful,but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7The soul that is full loathes honey,but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.

8Like a bird that strays from its nestis a man who wanders from his home.

9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.

10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend,and do not go to your brother’s housein the day of your calamity;better a neighbor nearbythan a brother far away.

11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart,so that I can answer him who taunts me.

12The prudent see danger and take cover,but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger;get collateral if it is for a foreigner.footnote a

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

15A constant dripping on a rainy dayand a contentious woman are alike— 16restraining her is like holding back the windor grasping oil with one’s right hand.

17As iron sharpens iron,so one man sharpens another.footnote b

18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,and he who looks after his master will be honored.

19As water reflects the face,so the heart reflects the true man.

20Sheol and Abaddonfootnote care never satisfied;so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle,yet his folly will not depart from him.

23Be sure to know the state of your flocks,and pay close attention to your herds; 24for riches are not forever,nor does a crown endure to every generation. 25When hay is removed and new growth appearsand the grass from the hills is gathered, 26the lambs will provide you with clothing,and the goats with the price of a field. 27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your householdand nourishment for your maidservants.