27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.(A)

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.(B)

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

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

Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.(D)

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

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

A man wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.(H)

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 neighbor 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,[b]
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.[c](O)

14 If one blesses his neighbor
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 man sharpens another.[d]

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

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 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and a man for the words of his praise.[e](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 forever;(Y)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain 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)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 LXX reads heart, but the soul is torn up by affliction
  2. Proverbs 27:13 A debtor’s outer garment held as collateral; Dt 24:12-13,17; Jb 22:6; Am 2:8
  3. Proverbs 27:13 Lit a foreign woman
  4. Proverbs 27:17 Lit and a man sharpens his friend’s face
  5. Proverbs 27:21 Or gold, but a man [is tested] by his praise

27 Do not boast(A) about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.(B)

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.(C)

Stone is heavy and sand(D) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?(E)

Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.(F)

One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Like a bird that flees its nest(G)
    is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume(H) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(I) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(J)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(K)

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(L)

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(M)

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(N)
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(O)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(P)

19 As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,(Q)
    and neither are human eyes.(R)

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(S)
    but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
    grinding them like grain with a pestle,
    you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(T)
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(U)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
  2. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon