Proverbs 27

1Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than they both.

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

5Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are importunate.

7The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.

9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; Neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity; Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that taunteth me.

12A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.

13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.

14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.

15A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;

16He that would hide her hideth the wind, And the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.

17Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19As in water face answereth to face, So the heart of man to man.

20The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; So the eyes of man are never satiated.

21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, And a man is tried by his praise.

22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds;

24For riches are not for ever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?

25When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;

26The lambs will be for thy clothing, And the goats the price for a field.

27And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; And maintenance for thy maidens.