Chapter
Verse

Proverbs chapter 27

English Standard Version

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 weighty, but a fool 's provocation is heavier than both. 4Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. 7One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. 8Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. 9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. 10Do not forsake your friend and your father 's friend, and do not go to your brother 's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. 11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. 12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. 13 Take a man 's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress. 14Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing. 15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; 16to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one 's right hand. 17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored. 19As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. 21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. 22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him. 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats ' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.
New International Version

New American Standard Bible

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 the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them. 4Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy? 5Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 7A satisfied person despises honey, But to a hungry person any bitter thing is sweet. 8Like a bird that wanders from its nest, So is a person who wanders from his home. 9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend. 10Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house on the day of your disaster; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. 11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may reply to one who taunts me. 12A prudent person sees evil and hides himself; But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty. 13Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger; And for a foreign woman seize a pledge from him. 14One who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be considered a curse to him. 15A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; 16He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 17 As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. 18One who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And one who cares for his master will be honored. 19As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person. 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of a person ever satisfied. 21The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him. 22Though you pound the fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, His foolishness still will not leave him. 23Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; 24For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, 27And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your attendants.
Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

King James Version

New King James Version

1Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. 3A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them. 4Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy? 5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. 9Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. 10Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. 12A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. 13Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress. 14He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. 15A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; 16Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored. 19As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. 20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. 22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. 23Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; 24For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field; 27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.

What does Proverbs chapter 27 mean?

Chapter 25 began a series of wise sayings attributed to Solomon (Proverbs 25:1), collected from other sources by Hezekiah's men. This list continues through the end of chapter 29. This passage includes several references to truthful, tactful communication and the value of good stewardship.

The chapter begins with a famous warning about the uncertainties of life. Much of this chapter extols the virtue of planning for the future. However, it's unwise to brag about something that has not yet been accomplished. Similar ideas are echoed in the New Testament (James 4:13–15). Arrogance of any kind is risky. Solomon notes how difficult it is to endure attacks from foolish, persistent people. In contrast, genuine love is shown by speaking the truth (Proverbs 27:1–6).

Further wisdom explains the value of close friends, who can be even more helpful than blood relatives in a time of crisis. Other notes speak about the sensibility of avoiding danger, maintaining a good reputation, the misery of a nagging spouse, and the frustrating way foolish people seem to cling to their errors (Proverbs 27:7–22).

The final segment of this chapter highlights the value of good stewardship. This uses the examples of livestock and farming. A diligent farmer cares for his flock, doing his best to ensure a prosperous future. Current wealth does not guarantee future wealth, so it's wise to plan ahead. Such efforts are more likely than not to lead to success. A lazy or irresponsible person risks falling behind and failing to provide for their family (Proverbs 27:23–27).
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