Proverbs 27

¹Don’t boast about tomorrow,

for you don’t know what a day might bring. ^a

²Let another praise you, and not your own mouth —

a stranger, and not your own lips. ^b

³A stone is heavy, and sand a burden,

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

⁴Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,

but who can withstand jealousy? ^c

⁵Better an open reprimand

than concealed love. ^d

⁶The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, ^e

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive. ^f

⁷A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, ^g

but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

⁸Anyone wandering from his home

is like a bird wandering from its nest. ^h

⁹Oil ⁱ and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel. ^j

¹⁰Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend, ^k

and don’t go to your brother’s house

in your time of calamity;

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. ^l

¹¹Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy, ^m

so that I can answer anyone who taunts me. ⁿ

¹²A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished. ^o

¹³Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners. ^p,^q

¹⁴If one blesses his neighbor

with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

¹⁵An endless dripping on a rainy day

and a nagging wife are alike; ^r

¹⁶the one who controls her controls the wind

and grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron,

and one person sharpens another. ^s

¹⁸Whoever tends a fig tree ^t will eat its fruit, ^u

and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

¹⁹As water reflects the face,

so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰Sheol and Abaddon ^v are never satisfied, ^w

and people’s eyes are never satisfied. ^x

²¹As a crucible refines silver,

and a smelter refines gold,

so a person should refine his praise. ^y

²²Though you grind a fool

in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

you will not separate his foolishness from him. ^z

²³Know well the condition of your flock, ^aa

and pay attention to your herds,

²⁴for wealth is not forever; ^ab

not even a crown lasts for all time.

²⁵When hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grain from the hills is gathered in,

²⁶lambs will provide your clothing,

and goats, the price of a field;

²⁷there will be enough goat’s milk for your food —

food for your household

and nourishment for your female servants. ^ac