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Do Not Boast

27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.[a]
Let another praise you and not your own mouth,
a stranger and not your own lips.
A stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but excessive the kisses of an enemy.

One who is full loathes honeycomb,
but to one who is hungry every bitter thing is sweet.

Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man that wanders from his home.

Iron Sharpens Iron

As ointment and perfume gladden the heart,
so the sweetness of one’s friend comes from his sincere counsel.
10 Do not forsake your friend, or your father’s friend,
nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster—
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far off.

11 Be wise, my son, make my heart glad,
so I may answer anyone who taunts me.

12 The prudent see danger and hide,
but the naïve keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge, as security for a seductive woman.

14 If someone blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.

15 Continual dripping on a day of steady rain
and a contentious wife are alike—
16 hiding her is like hiding the wind or grasping oil with the right hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
so a person sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
whoever takes care of his master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,
so a person’s heart reflects the person.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and neither are the eyes of man.
21 A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold,
but a person is proved by the praise he receives.

22 Even if you pound the fool along with the grain in a mortar with a pestle,
his foolishness would never leave him.

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
pay attention to your herds,
24 for riches are not forever,
nor a crown from generation to generation.

25 When hay is removed and grass appears,
    and grain from the hills is gathered in,
26 lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and goats with the price of a field.
27 There will be enough goats’ milk for food
    and food for your household,
    and sustenance for your maidservants.

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