Proverbs 27

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

1 Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.

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

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

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

3 A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

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

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

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

6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

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

7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.

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

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

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

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

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

10 Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.

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

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

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

12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

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

13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!

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

14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.

15 A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—

15 A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:

16 restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

16 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

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

17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

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

18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.

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

19 Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

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

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

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

21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

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

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

23 Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;

23 Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,

24 for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.

24 for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.

25 When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,

25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.

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

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.

27 There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.