Proverbs 27

1Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring. 2and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Let another man praise you, 3and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. A stone is heavy, 4and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? Wrath is cruel, 5than hidden love. Better is open rebuke 6although the kisses of an enemy are profuse. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; 7but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. A full soul loathes a honeycomb; 8so is a man who wanders from his home. As a bird that wanders from her nest, 9so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; 10Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother. Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. 11and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor. Be wise, my son, 12but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; 13Hold it for a wayward woman! Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. 14it will be taken as a curse by him. He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, 15and a contentious wife are alike: A continual dropping on a rainy day 16or like grasping oil in his right hand. restraining her is like restraining the wind, 17so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. Iron sharpens iron; 18He who looks after his master shall be honored. Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. 19so a man’s heart reflects the man. Like water reflects a face, 20and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. Sheol * and Abaddon are never satisfied; 21and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise. The crucible is for silver, 22yet his foolishness will not be removed from him. Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, 23and pay attention to your herds: Know well the state of your flocks, 24nor does even the crown endure to all generations. for riches are not forever, 25the grasses of the hills are gathered in. The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, 26and the goats are the price of a field. The lambs are for your clothing, 27for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,