Proverbs 27

¹ Don’t boast about tomorrow;

² Let another man praise you,

³ A stone is heavy, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

⁴ Wrath is cruel, but who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵ Better is open rebuke

⁶ The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

⁷ A full soul loathes a honeycomb;

⁸ As a bird that wanders from her nest,

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.

¹¹ Be wise, my son,

¹² A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge;

¹³ Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger.

¹⁴ He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,

¹⁵ A continual dropping on a rainy day

¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind,

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron;

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,

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied;

²¹ The crucible is for silver, but man is refined by his praise.

²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

²³ Know well the state of your flocks,

²⁴ for riches are not forever,

²⁵ The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,

²⁶ The lambs are for your clothing,

²⁷ There will be plenty of goats ’ milk for your food,