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?

5Better 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.

9Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.27:9 Or and so does the sweetness of a friend that 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 neighbour who is near

than a brother who is far away.

11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

that I may answer him who reproaches me.

12The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13Take 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.27:13 Hebrew a foreign woman; a slight emendation yields (compare Vulgate; see also 20:16) foreigners

14Whoever blesses his neighbour with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

15A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

16to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp27:16 Hebrew to meet with oil in one's right hand.

17Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.27:17 Hebrew sharpens the face of another

18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honoured.

19As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

21The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and a man is tested by his praise.

22Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle

along with crushed grain,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

23Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

24for riches do not last for ever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

25When the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

26the lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

27There will be enough goats' milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.