Proverbs 27

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Proverbs 27 presents a collection of sayings regarding human behavior, relationships, and practical management. It advises against boasting about tomorrow and encourages letting others offer praise rather than oneself. The chapter contrasts the heaviness of a fool's aggravation with physical burdens, compares the wounds of a friend to deceitful enemy kisses, and notes how a hungry soul perceives bitter things as sweet. It discusses the value of nearby neighbors over distant brothers, the necessity of prudence upon seeing danger, and the financial caution required regarding strangers. Additionally, the text addresses domestic strife, the mutual sharpening of individuals, the unending desires of the human eye and the underworld, and agricultural duties concerning flocks, herds, hay, and goats that provide food and clothing.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. ²Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips. ³A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. ⁴Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy? ⁵Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. ⁶The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. ⁷The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet. ⁸Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home. ⁹Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to 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. ¹¹Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me. ¹²The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. ¹³Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner. ¹⁴If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse. ¹⁵A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike— ¹⁶restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand. ¹⁷As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. ¹⁸Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. ¹⁹As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man. ²⁰Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. ²¹A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him. ²²Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him. ²³Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; ²⁴for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. ²⁵When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered, 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 you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.