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

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips.

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

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous,
    but who is able to stand before envy?

Open rebuke is better
    than secret love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
    but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The full soul loathes a honeycomb,
    but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

As a bird that wanders from her nest,
    so is a man who wanders from his place.

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart,
    so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
    nor go into your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
    for better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far off.

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

12 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
    but the simple pass on and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is security for a stranger,
    and take a pledge of him for an adulterous woman.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
    it will be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day
    and a contentious woman are alike;
16 whoever restrains her restrains the wind,
    and grasps oil in his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,
    so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
    so he who waits on his master will be honored.

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

20 Death and destruction are never full;
    so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

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

22 Though you should grind a fool in a mortar
    among wheat with a pestle,
    yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
    and look well to your herds;
24 for riches are not forever,
    nor does the crown endure to every generation.
25 The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself,
    and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
    and the goats are the price of the field.
27 You will have goats’ milk enough
    for your food, for the food of your household,
    and for the maintenance of your maidens.

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