Proverbs 27 Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse. A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a person who wanders from his home. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a friend. 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. Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor. A prudent person see danger and takes refuge; but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman! He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him. A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike: restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens their friend. Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit. The one who looks after their master will be honored. Like water reflects a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person. Sheol+27:20 Sheol is the place of the dead. and Abaddon are never satisfied; so a person’s eyes are never satisfied. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so a person is refined by their praise. Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

 

Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds, for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations. The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in. The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field. There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.