Proverbs 27

27Do not boast^z about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.^a

²Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;

an outsider, and not your own lips.^b

³Stone is heavy and sand^c a burden,

but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

⁴Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?^d

⁵Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

⁶Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.^e

⁷One who is full loathes honey from the comb,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

⁸Like a bird that flees its nest^f

is anyone who flees from home.

⁹Perfume^g and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

¹⁰Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster^h strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

¹¹Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;ⁱ

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.^j

¹²The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^k

¹³Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.^l

¹⁴If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

¹⁵A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping^m

of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

¹⁶restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

¹⁷As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

¹⁸The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,ⁿ

and whoever protects their master will be honored.^o

¹⁹As water reflects the face,

so one’s life reflects the heart.^a

²⁰Death and Destruction^b are never satisfied,^p

and neither are human eyes.^q

²¹The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^r

but people are tested by their praise.

²²Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding them like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove their folly from them.

²³Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,^s

give careful attention to your herds;

²⁴for riches do not endure forever,^t

and a crown is not secure for all generations.

²⁵When the hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

²⁶the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

²⁷You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

and to nourish your female servants.