27:1 Do not boast1 about tomorrow;2
for you do not know3 what a day may bring forth.
27:2 Let another4 praise you, and not your own mouth;5
someone else,6 and not your own lips.
27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
but vexation7 by a fool more burdensome8 than the two of them.
27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming,9
but who can stand before jealousy?10
than hidden12 love.
27:6 Faithful13 are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses14 of an enemy are excessive.15
27:7 The one whose appetite16 is satisfied loathes honey,
but to the hungry mouth17 every bitter thing is sweet.
27:8 Like a bird that wanders18 from its nest,
so is a person who wanders from his place.19
27:9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice,20
likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.21
27:10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,
and do not enter the house of your brother in the day of your disaster;
a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.22
27:11 Be wise, my child,23 and make my heart glad,
so that I may answer24 anyone who taunts me.25
27:12 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,
but the naive keep right on going26 and suffer for it.
27:13 Take his garment that is security for a stranger
and hold him in pledge that is surety for strangers.
27:14 If someone blesses27 his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,28
it will be counted as a curse to him.29
27:15 A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a contentious wife30 are alike.31
27:16 Whoever hides her hides the wind32
or grasps33 oil with his right hand.34
27:17 As35 iron sharpens36 iron,
so one person37 sharpens his friend.38
27:18 The one who tends a fig tree39 will eat its fruit,40
and whoever takes care of41 his master will be honored.
27:19 As in water the face is reflected as a face,42
so a person’s heart43 reflects the person.
27:20 As44 Death and Destruction are never satisfied,45
so the eyes of a person46 are never satisfied.47
27:21 As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,48
so a person49 is proved50 by the praise he receives.51
27:22 If you should pound52 the fool in the mortar
among the grain53 with the pestle,
his foolishness would not depart from him.54
27:23 Pay careful attention to55 the condition of your flocks,56
give careful attention57 to your herds,
27:24 for riches do not last58 forever,
nor does a crown last59 from generation to generation.
27:25 When the hay is removed and new grass appears,
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
27:26 the lambs will be for your clothing,
and the goats will be for the price of a field.60
27:27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food,61
for the food of your household,
and for the maintenance62 of your servant girls.