Proverbs 27

1 Do not [refrain from, cease] boast [exalt yourself, make a show] about tomorrow [the next day, a future time], for you do not [are unable to, lack knowledge of] know [understand, perceive] what [anything, something] a day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] may bring [produce, bring forth]. word study 2 Let another [someone else, a stranger] praise you, and not your own mouth [lips, words]— a stranger [foreign, unfamiliar person], and not your own lips [language, expression]. word study 3 A stone [heavy rock or weight] is heavy [severe, weighing heavily] and sand [round, whirling particles] is a burden [weight, load], but aggravation [vexation, anger] from a fool [foolish, despising wisdom] outweighs [is heavier than] them both [the two, a pair]. word study 4 Wrath [intense anger, fury] is cruel [harsh, unkind] and anger [rage] is like a flood [overwhelming, destructive downpour], but who [what person] can withstand [stand before] jealousy [envy, strong feelings of resentment]? word study 5 Better [more beneficial, preferable] an open [public, unveiled] rebuke [correction, reproof] than love [affection, devotion] that is [remains] concealed [hidden, secret]. word study 6 The wounds [faithful, from a lover] of a friend [one who loves, a dear one] are faithful [be faithful, trustworthy], but the kisses [abundant, profuse] of an enemy [one who hates, a foe] are deceitful [false, pleasant but insincere]. word study 7 The soul [living being, essence of a person] that is full [sated, satisfied] loathes [rejects, despises] honey [a sweet delicacy], but to a hungry [needy, lacking] soul [living being, essence of a person], any bitter [unpleasant] thing is sweet [pleasant, agreeable]. word study 8 Like a [little, hopping] bird that strays [wanders, flees] from its nest [home, dwelling place] is a man [individual, person] who wanders [leaves, flees] from his [own, proper] home [place, location]. word study 9 Oil [olive oil] and incense [a sweet smoke from burning sacrifices] bring joy [rejoice, be glad] to the heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect], and the sweetness [pleasant or enjoyable quality] of a friend [neighbor, companion] is counsel [wise advice, plan, or purpose] to the soul [the essence of a person, living being]. word study 10 Do not [under any circumstances] forsake [abandon or relinquish] your friend [close companion, buddy] or your father’s [parental, ancestral] friend, and do not go [enter or approach] to your brother’s [male sibling, relative] house in the day [time period, era] of your calamity [disaster, misfortune]; better [more beneficial, pleasant] a neighbor [nearby resident, fellow citizen] nearby [close in proximity] than a brother [male sibling, relative] far away [distant, Distant in relationship]. word study 11 Be wise [have good judgment, act intelligently], my son [child, descendant], and bring joy [rejoice, be glad] to my heart [feelings, will, intellect], so that I can answer [respond, reply] him who taunts [reproaches, criticizes] me [with scorn, contempt]. word study 12 The prudent [wise, discerning] see danger [evil, adversity] and take cover [hide, conceal themselves]; but the simple [naive, easily influenced] keep going [pass on, continue without caution] and pay the penalty [suffer punishment, are fined]. word study 13 Take [seize, receive as collateral] the garment [clothing, a pledge] of him who posts security [serves as a guarantor, gives a promise] for a stranger [foreigner, one who is unknown]; get collateral [a pledge, security] if it is for a foreigner [an alien, someone from a different land, a strange woman]. word study 14 If one blesses [praises, honors] his neighbor [friend, companion] with a loud [great, boisterous] voice [sound, utterance] early [at the break of day] in the morning [at dawn, when day begins], it will be counted [reckoned, considered] to him as a curse [a wish for harm, evil]. word study 15 A constant [continual, steady] dripping [like a faucet] on a rainy [very rainy, pouring] day [period of time] and a contentious [argumentative, bitter-tongued] woman [wife, female person] are alike [similar, equal]— word study 16 restraining her [like holding the wind, or grasping oil] is like holding back [controlling, stopping] the wind [a gentle breeze] or grasping [encountering, trying to hold] oil [olive oil] with one’s [the person’s, his own] right hand [the hand of strength, or Benjamin, the son of Israel]. word study 17 As iron [a strong metal] sharpens iron [making it keen, refining it], so one man [a person, individual] sharpens [refines, makes keen] another [his friend, companion, neighbor]. word study 18 Whoever [carefully watches over, tends with diligence] tends a fig tree [the fig tree or its fruit, a common food source] will eat [devour, consume] its fruit [the produce that comes from the ground or from our actions], and he who [faithfully] looks after [waits on, attends to] his master [lord, leader, one in authority] will be [highly] honored [glorified, esteemed, given weighty respect]. word study 19 As water [a liquid or source of refreshment] reflects the face [presence or countenance], so the heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] reflects the true man [the inner person, Adam, the first human created by God]. word study 20 Sheol [the underworld, grave, or place of no return] and Abaddon [destruction, perishing] are never satisfied [filled, content]; so the eyes [sources] of man [humanity, the first human Adam] are never satisfied [content, at rest]. word study 21 A crucible [refining pot, for purification] for silver [wealth, treasure] and a furnace [smelting pot, for refinement] for gold [precious metal], but a man [individual, human being] is tested [tried, refined] by the praise [admiration, acclaim] accorded him [given to him, in his honor]. word study 22 Though you grind [pound or bray] a fool [foolish person, despising wisdom] like grain [wheat or cereal] with mortar [hollow vessel] and a pestle [tool for grinding], yet his folly [foolishness, silliness] will not depart [turn aside, be removed] from him. word study 23 Be sure [diligent, thoroughly attentive] to know [to ascertain by seeing, perceive] the state [condition, face] of your flocks [sheep, a group of animals], and pay close attention [look well, set your heart] to your herds [cattle, a group of livestock]; word study 24 for riches [wealth, treasure] are not forever [to the age, always], nor does a crown [consecration] endure to every generation [period of time, group of people]. word study 25 When hay [the grass or tender shoots] is removed and new growth [green herbs or vegetation] appears and the grain [the harvest or crops] from the hills [the mountains or high places] is gathered [brought together or collected], word study 26 the lambs [young rams, for clothing] will provide you with clothing [garments, covering], and the goats [full-grown males, for sacrifice] with the price [payment, wages] of a field [land, cultivated area]. word study 27 You will have plenty of goats’ [female, she-] milk to feed you [sufficient for your needs, enough for your food]— food [bread, nourishment, sustenance] for your household [family, dwelling place] and nourishment [life, sustenance, maintenance] for your maidservants [young, unmarried women, servant girls]. word study