Proverbs 27

¹Boast not for tomorrow, being ignorant what the day to come may bring forth.

²Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger and not thine own lips.

³A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than both.

⁴Anger hath no mercy, nor fury breaking forth: and the violence of a moved spirit who can sustain?

⁵Better is manifest correption, than love hidden.

⁶Better are the wounds of him that loveth, than the fraudulent kisses of him that hateth.

⁷A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take bitter also for sweet.

⁸As a bird fleeting from her nest, so a man that forsaketh his place.

⁹The heart is delighted with ointment and diverse odours: and with the good counsels of a friend the soul is sweetened.

¹⁰Thy friend, and thy father's friend do not leave: and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thine affliction. Better is a neighbour near than a brother far off.

¹¹Study wisdom my son, & make my heart joyful, that thou mayst make answer to the upbraider.

¹²The subtle man seeing evil, hideth himself: little ones passing through have sustained evil detriments.

¹³Take his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and for aliens take from him a pledge.

¹⁴He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, he shall be like him that curseth.

¹⁵Roofs dropping through in the day of cold, and a brawling woman are compared together:

¹⁶He that retaineth her, as he that should hold the wind, and shall call it the oil of his right hand.

¹⁷Iron is sharpened with iron, and a man sharpeneth the face of his friend.

¹⁸He that keepeth the figtree, shall eat the fruits thereof: and he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified.

¹⁹As in waters the countenance of them that look therein shineth, so the hearts of men are manifest to the prudent.

²⁰Hell and perdition are never filled: in like manner also the eyes of men are unsatiable.

²¹As silver is tried in the forge, and gold in the furnace: so a man is proved by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.

²²If thou shall bray a fool in a mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon ptisane, his folly shall not be taken from him.

²³Know diligently the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy flocks:

²⁴For thou shalt not have power always: but a crown shall be given into generation and generation.

²⁵The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the grass is gathered out of the mountains.

²⁶Lambs for thy garment: and kids the price of the field.

²⁷Let the milk of the goats suffice thee for thy meats, and for the necessities of thy house: and for victual to thy hand-maids.