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Proverbs 27

1

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

3

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

4

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

1
5

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

1
7

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10

Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

1
12

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

13

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

15

A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16

Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18

Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

1
19

As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

22

Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

1
23

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

24

For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25

The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26

The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27

And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

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Proverbs 27

Chapter 27 explores themes of friendship, self-knowledge, and the proper ordering of priorities, offering counsel that emphasizes the value of genuine relationships, the dangers of pride, and the importance of honest self-assessment. The chapter opens with the famous assertion that one should not boast about tomorrow for one does not know what a day may bring, establishing a fundamental epistemological humility about the future, and later states that iron sharpens iron as one person sharpens another, suggesting that genuine friendship requires mutual challenge and accountability. The chapter emphasizes that the faithful friend is more valuable than a fool's love (or possibly a stranger's flattery), that reproofs of love are more faithful than the flattery of enemies, and that sweetness of friendship comes through constant counsel and shared reflection. Memorable images include the faithfulness of wounds inflicted by a friend being better than the flattery of enemies; the sated appetite despising honeycomb while the hungry appetite finds even bitter things sweet (suggesting that perspective is determined by one's condition); and the righteous being like a spring of flowing water while the wicked's path is like a ruin. The chapter also warns against leaving fields and flocks untended, and emphasizes that possession and wealth require vigilance and work, suggesting that wisdom encompasses economic stewardship and relational care. Chapter 27 emphasizes that genuine wisdom consists in knowing oneself honestly, valuing true friendship, and maintaining humility about the future.

Proverbs 27:1

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring—a warning against presumptuous planning, establishing that future uncertainty should humble present confidence. The verb 'boast' (hithalal) describes vaunting about future events. The theological significance involves the principle of submission to God's providence.

Proverbs 27:2

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips—an exhortation to refrain from self-praise, establishing that genuine honor comes through others' recognition, not self-advertisement. The theological significance involves the principle of humility.

Proverbs 27:3

Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both—a statement that foolish provocation weighs more than material burdens, establishing that the fool's antagonism is destructive beyond proportion. The theological significance involves the principle of the fool's particular capacity for harm.

Proverbs 27:4

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?—a statement that jealousy exceeds anger in destructiveness, establishing a hierarchy of dangerous emotions. The rhetorical question suggests that no one can withstand jealous rage. The theological significance involves the principle of jealousy as uniquely destructive.

Proverbs 27:5

Better is open rebuke than hidden love—an affirmation that honest correction is superior to unexpressed favor, establishing that genuine care may require difficult speech. The theological significance involves the principle of the necessity of honest confrontation.

Proverbs 27:6

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses—a statement that painful correction from a friend is authentic while false praise from an enemy is poisonous, establishing the value of honest friendship. The theological significance involves the principle of preferring honest enmity to false favor.

Proverbs 27:7

One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet—a statement about how need transforms perception, establishing that appetite determines appreciation. The theological significance involves the principle of gratitude flowing from real need.

Proverbs 27:8

Like a bird that strays from its nest is anyone who strays from home—a statement that wandering from one's place results in lost security, establishing the importance of rootedness. The theological significance involves the principle of the stability provided by home and place.

Proverbs 27:9

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice—a statement that genuine friendship produces deeper satisfaction than mere sensory pleasure, establishing friendship as a supreme good. The theological significance involves the principle of relationship as the highest form of flourishing.

Proverbs 27:10

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—an exhortation to maintain friendships and to recognize that present, nearby support is more valuable than distant family ties. The theological significance involves the principle of the importance of proximate relationships.

Proverbs 27:11

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt—a father's declaration that filial wisdom brings paternal pride and dignity, establishing that parental status depends on children's virtue. The theological significance involves the principle of intergenerational blessing.

Proverbs 27:12

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty—a repetition of 22:3, emphasizing the fundamental distinction between the wise who anticipate harm and the simple who stumble into it. The theological significance involves the principle of foresight as the mark of wisdom.

Proverbs 27:13

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge for an adulteress—a reinforcement of 20:16 with emphasis on the particular foolishness of co-signing for immoral persons, establishing that such entanglement is especially dangerous. The theological significance involves the principle of financial caution.

Proverbs 27:14

If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse—a statement that excessive or ill-timed enthusiasm is experienced as oppressive, establishing the importance of appropriate timing and tone. The theological significance involves the principle of wisdom in the manner of speech.

Proverbs 27:15

A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm—a reinforcement of 19:13 and 21:9, describing the relentless irritation of marital discord. The repetition emphasizes the ubiquity and severity of this problem. The theological significance involves the principle of the supreme importance of peace in marriage.

Proverbs 27:16

Restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand—a statement that controlling a quarrelsome person is impossible, establishing that such conflict cannot be resolved through force. The impossibility of the task (containing wind or oil) emphasizes futility. The theological significance involves the principle of the limits of human ability to change another.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another—an affirmation that relationships involving mutual challenge produce growth, establishing that we are shaped by those around us. The theological significance involves the principle of community as formative.

Proverbs 27:18

The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored—a statement that faithful service produces rewards, establishing that loyalty yields benefit. The theological significance involves the principle of reward following service.

Proverbs 27:19

As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart—a statement that external behavior reveals internal condition, establishing the transparency of character. The theological significance involves the principle that the heart manifests in the life.

Proverbs 27:20

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man—a statement about insatiable human appetite, establishing that desire without restraint is infinite. The parallel to Death and Destruction emphasizes the seriousness of unchecked appetite. The theological significance involves the principle of the need for contentment.

Proverbs 27:21

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise—a statement that character is tested and revealed through receiving honor, establishing that praise may reveal hidden weakness. The theological significance involves the principle of vigilance against pride.

Proverbs 27:22

Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them—a statement of the fool's incorrigibility, establishing that no amount of pressure will induce wisdom in the resistant. The thorough grinding emphasizes that even extreme measures fail. The theological significance involves the principle of the fool's inviolable resistance to change.

Proverbs 27:23

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds—an exhortation to careful management of one's resources and people, establishing that stewardship requires attention. The theological significance involves the principle of responsibility for those under one's care.

Proverbs 27:24

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations—a statement of the transience of wealth and power, establishing that possessions and position are subject to loss. The theological significance involves the principle of the futility of placing trust in material security.

Proverbs 27:25

When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in—a description of agricultural cycles, setting up the context for provision through work.

Proverbs 27:26

The lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field—a completion of the thought that careful management of flocks provides sustenance and wealth, establishing that diligent husbandry yields provision. The theological significance involves the principle of abundance flowing from faithful management.

Proverbs 27:27

You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your female servants—a completion affirming that faithful care of resources produces comprehensive provision and allows for generosity to servants. The theological significance involves the principle of sufficiency enabling generosity.