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