Proverbs 27-29

27¹ Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.

² Let another 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 vexation is heavier than them both. ⁴ Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵ Open rebuke is better than hidden love. ⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

⁷ The full soul trampleth on a 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; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel. ¹⁰ Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

¹² A prudent [man] seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; the simple pass on, [and] are punished.

¹³ Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

¹⁴ He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.

¹⁵ A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike: ¹⁶ whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

¹⁷ Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

¹⁸ Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.

¹⁹ As [in] water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.

²⁰ Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

²¹ The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.

²² If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.

²³ Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds: ²⁴ for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown [endure] from generation to generation? ²⁵ The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in. ²⁶ The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field; ²⁷ and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.

The Wicked and the Righteous

28¹ The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.

² By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding [and] of knowledge, [its] stability is prolonged.

³ A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

⁴ They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵ Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek Jehovah understand everything.

⁶ Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse, double in ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

⁸ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.

⁹ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰ Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, shall himself fall into his own pit; but the perfect shall inherit good.

¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men conceal themselves.

¹³ He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall obtain mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

¹⁵ A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶ The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.

¹⁷ A man laden with the blood of [any] person, fleeth to the pit: let no man stay him.

¹⁸ Whoso walketh in integrity shall be saved; but he that is perverted in [his] double ways, shall fall in one [of them].

¹⁹ He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless shall have poverty enough.

²⁰ A faithful man aboundeth with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

²¹ To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.

²² He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.

²³ He that rebuketh a man shall afterwards find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²⁴ Whoso robbeth his father and his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁵ He that is puffed up in soul exciteth contention; but he that relieth upon Jehovah shall be made fat.

²⁶ He that confideth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁷ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that withdraweth his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

29¹ He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy.

² When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

³ Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but he that is a companion of harlots destroyeth [his] substance.

⁴ A king by just judgment establisheth the land; but he that taketh gifts overthroweth it.

⁵ A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.

⁶ In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous shall sing and rejoice.

⁷ The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; the wicked understandeth not knowledge.

⁸ Scornful men set the city in a flame; but the wise turn away anger.

⁹ If a wise man contendeth with a fool, whether he rage or laugh, [he] hath no rest.

¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate the perfect, but the upright care for his soul.

¹¹ A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise [man] keepeth it back.

¹² If a ruler hearken to lying words, all his servants are wicked.

¹³ The indigent and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.

¹⁴ A king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

¹⁵ The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame.

¹⁶ When the wicked increase, transgression increaseth; but the righteous shall see their fall.

¹⁷ Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest, and shall give delight unto thy soul.

¹⁸ Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.

¹⁹ A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.

²⁰ Hast thou seen a man hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

²¹ He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall in the end have him as a son.

²² An angry man exciteth contention; and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

²³ A man's pride bringeth him low; but the humble in spirit shall obtain honour.

²⁴ Whoso shareth with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth the adjuration, and declareth not.

²⁵ The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his confidence in Jehovah is protected.

²⁶ Many seek the ruler's face; but a man's right judgment is from Jehovah.

²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; and he that is of upright way is an abomination to the wicked [man].