Chapter 27

¹ Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth. ² Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips. ³ A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both. ⁴ Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing. ⁵ Open reproofs are better than secret love. ⁶ The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.

⁷ A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet. ⁸ As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place. ⁹ The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.

¹⁰ Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother’s house: better is a friend that is near than a brother living far off. ¹¹ Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words. ¹² A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished. ¹³ Take away the man’s garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another’s goods. ¹⁴ Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him.

¹⁵ On a stormy day drops of rain drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman drive a man out of his own house. ¹⁶ The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious. ¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. ¹⁸ He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured. ¹⁹ As faces are not like other faces, so neither are the thoughts of men. ²⁰ Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [¹He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] ²¹ Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart

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seeks knowledge. ²² Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt still in no wise remove his folly from him.

²³ Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds. ²⁴ For a man has not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation. ²⁵ Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay; ²⁶ that thou mayest have wool of sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs. ²⁷ My son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.