Proverbs 27
1 Boast not of to-morrow; for thou
knowest not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Let thy neighbour, and not thine own
mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand
cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp:
but envy can bear nothing. 5 Open
reproofs are better than secret love.
6 The wounds of a friend are more to
be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but
to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 As when a bird flies down from its
own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from
his own place. 9 The heart delights in
ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's
friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's
house: better is a friend that is near than a brother
living far off. 11 Son, be wise, that
thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words.
12 A wise man, when evils are
approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Take away the man's garment, (for
a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in
the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who
curses him.
15 On a stormy day drops
of rain drive a man out of his house; so also does a
railing woman drive a man out of his own house.
16 The north wind is sharp, but it is
called by name propitious. 17 Iron
sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 He that plants a fig-tree shall
eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 As faces are not like
other faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 Hell and destruction are not
filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable.
20a [aHeb. omits to ver 21.He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do
not restrain their tongue.] 21 Fire
is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that
praise him. 21a The heart of the
transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Though thou scourge a fool,
disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt
still in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Do thou thoroughly know the number
of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds.
24 For a man
has not strength and power for ever; neither does he
transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Take care of the herbage in the
field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 that thou mayest have
wool of sheep for clothing: pay attention to the
land, that thou mayest have lambs. 27 My son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy
life, and for the life of thy servants.