1Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

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.

7He who is sated 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,

but the soul is torn by trouble.27.9 Gk: Heb the sweetness of his friend from hearty counsel

10Your friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake;

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.

12A prudent man sees danger and hides himself;

but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

13Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger,

and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.27.13 Vg and 20.16: Heb a foreign woman

14He who 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 contentious woman are alike;

16to restrain her is to restrain the wind27.16 Heb obscure

or to grasp oil in one's right hand.

17Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

18He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honoured.

19As in water face answers to face,

so the mind 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 judged 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 herbage 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 maidens.