Proverbs 27:1-Proverbs 30:1 - All About Life

¹ Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.

² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.

³ A stone is heavy and sand, a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

⁴ Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?

⁵ Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.

⁶ The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

⁷ A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ A man wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.

⁹ Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

¹⁰ Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.

¹² A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

¹³ Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.

¹⁴ If one blesses his neighbor
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.

¹⁵ An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike.

¹⁶ The one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

¹⁸ Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.

²¹ A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and a man for the words of his praise.

²² Though you grind a fool
in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
you will not separate his foolishness from him.

²³ Know well the condition of your flock,
and pay attention to your herds,

²⁴ for wealth is not forever;
not even a crown lasts for all time.

²⁵ When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,

²⁶ lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;

²⁷ there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.

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¹ The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

² When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

³ A destitute leader who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

⁴ Those who reject the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law battle against them.

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

⁶ Better a poor man who lives with integrity
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.

⁷ A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

⁸ Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.

⁹ Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.

¹⁰ The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.

¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

¹² When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide themselves.

¹³ The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the one who is always reverent,
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵ A wicked ruler over a helpless people
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.

¹⁶ A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.

¹⁷ A man burdened by bloodguilt
will be a fugitive until death.
Let no one help him.

¹⁸ The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong
will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰ A faithful man will have many blessings,
but one in a hurry to get rich
will not go unpunished.

²¹ It is not good to show partiality—
yet a man may sin for a piece of bread.

²² A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.

²³ One who rebukes a person will later find more favor
than one who flatters with his tongue.

²⁴ The one who robs his father or mother
and says, “That’s no sin,”
is a companion to a man who destroys.

²⁵ A greedy person provokes conflict,
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶ The one who trusts in himself is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

²⁷ The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away
will receive many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.

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¹ One who becomes stiff-necked,
after many reprimands
will be shattered instantly—
beyond recovery.

² When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, people groan.

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.

⁴ By justice a king brings stability to a land,
but a man who demands “contributions”
demolishes it.

⁵ A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.

⁶ An evil man is caught by sin,
but the righteous one sings and rejoices.

⁷ The righteous person knows the rights of the poor,
but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

⁸ Mockers inflame a city,
but the wise turn away anger.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person,
but the upright care about him.

¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man holds it in check.

¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴ A king who judges the poor with fairness—
his throne will be established forever.

¹⁵ A rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a youth left to himself
is a disgrace to his mother.

¹⁶ When the wicked increase, rebellion increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.

¹⁷ Discipline your son, and it will bring you peace of mind
and give you delight.

¹⁸ Without revelation people run wild,
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.

¹⁹ A slave cannot be disciplined by words;
though he understands, he doesn’t respond.

²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks too soon?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ A slave pampered from his youth
will become arrogant later on.

²² An angry man stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered man increases rebellion.

²³ A person’s pride will humble him,
but a humble spirit will gain honor.

²⁴ To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself;
he hears the curse but will not testify.

²⁵ The fear of man is a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.

²⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,
but a man receives justice from the Lord.

²⁷ An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.

¹ The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.

The man’s oration to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: