Keraia
Wisdom and Poetry

Proverbs 27

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow

1Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

1Do not boast about tomorrow for, you do not know what a day will bring forth.

2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—

a stranger, and not your own lips.

2Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth—a foreigner, and not your own lips.

3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden,

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

3The heaviness of a stone and the weight of the sand—and the anger of a fool is heavier than both of them.

4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood,

but who can withstand jealousy?

4The cruelty of rage and the flood of a nostril—and who can stand before the face of jealousy?

5Better an open rebuke

than love that is concealed.

5Better is an uncovered rebuke than love hidden.

6The wounds of a friend are faithful,

but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

6Faithful are the wounds of one who loves, and abundant are the kisses of one hating.

7The soul that is full loathes honey,

but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.

7A soul satiated would trample a honeycomb, and to a hungry soul, everything bitter is sweet.

8Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who wanders from his home.

8Like a bird wandering from her nest, so is a man wandering from his place.

9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.

9Oil and incense gladden the heart, and the sweetness of one’s friend is from the counsel of the soul.

10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend,

and do not go to your brother’s house

in the day of your calamity;

better a neighbor nearby

than a brother far away.

10Do not forsake your friend, and the friend of your father, and do not enter the house of your brother in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

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

so that I can answer him who taunts me.

11Be wise, my son, and gladden my heart, that I may return a word to the one reproaching me.

12The prudent see danger and take cover,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

12A prudent one sees evil coming; he hides himself; simple ones pass along, and they are punished.

13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

13Take his garment when a stranger posts security, and hold it in pledge for a foreign woman.

14If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted to him as a curse.

14The one blessing his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse for him.

15A constant dripping on a rainy day

and a contentious woman are alike—

15A continual dripping in a day of rain, and a woman of quarrels are alike—

16restraining her is like holding back the wind

or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

16hiding her is hiding the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

17As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens another.

17Iron is sharpened by iron, and a man sharpens the face of his friend.

18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who looks after his master will be honored.

18One keeping watch over a fig tree will eat its fruit, and the one guarding his master will be honored.

19As water reflects the face,

so the heart reflects the true man.

19As in the water the face is to the face, so the heart of the man is to the man.

20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied;

so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of the man are never satisfied.

21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,

but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, so is a man by the mouth of one who praises him.

22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

22Though you may pound a fool in the mortar, in the midst of the grain with the pestle, his folly will not turn away from him.

23Be sure to know the state of your flocks,

and pay close attention to your herds;

23Be sure to know the faces of your flock, and set your heart to your herds,

24for riches are not forever,

nor does a crown endure to every generation.

24for riches are not forever, nor is a diadem for all generations.

25When hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered,

25The hay is uncovered, and the tender grass is visible, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

26The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats the price of field,

27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—

food for your household

and nourishment for your maidservants.

27and enough milk of goats is for your foor, for the food of your house and the life of your maidservants.