1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.
an outsider, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8 Like a bird that flees its nest
is anyone who flees from home.
is anyone who flees from home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you —
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you —
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
it will be taken as a curse.
15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
or grasping oil with the hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
so one person sharpens another.
18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever protects their master will be honored.
and whoever protects their master will be honored.
19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.a
so one’s life reflects the heart.a
20 Death and Destructionb are never satisfied,
and neither are human eyes.
and neither are human eyes.
21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
but people are tested by their praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.
and to nourish your female servants.
Proverbs, 27 chapter