Proverbs 27-28

Proverbs 27-28 (New International Version)

 ¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
       for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

 ² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
       someone else, and not your own lips.

 ³ Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
       but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

 ⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
       but who can stand before jealousy?

 ⁵ Better is open rebuke
       than hidden love.

 ⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
       but an enemy multiplies kisses.

 ⁷ He who is full loathes honey,
       but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

 ⁸ Like a bird that strays from its nest
       is a man who strays from his home.

 ⁹ Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
       and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

 ¹⁰ Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,
       and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you—
       better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

 ¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
       then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

 ¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
       but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

 ¹³ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
       hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

 ¹⁴ If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning,
       it will be taken as a curse.

 ¹⁵ A quarrelsome wife is like
       a constant dripping on a rainy day;

 ¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind
       or grasping oil with the hand.

 ¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
       so one man sharpens another.

 ¹⁸ He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
       and he who looks after his master will be honored.

 ¹⁹ As water reflects a face,
       so a man's heart reflects the man.

 ²⁰ Death and Destruction ^[a] are never satisfied,
       and neither are the eyes of man.

 ²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
       but man is tested by the praise he receives.

 ²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
       grinding him like grain with a pestle,
       you will not remove his folly from him.

 ²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
       give careful attention to your herds;

 ²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,
       and a crown is not secure for all generations.

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

 ²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
       and the goats with the price of a field.

 ²⁷ You will have plenty of goats' milk
       to feed you and your family
       and to nourish your servant girls.

Proverbs 28

 ¹ The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
       but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

 ² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
       but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

 ³ A ruler ^[b] who oppresses the poor
       is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

 ⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
       but those who keep the law resist them.

 ⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
       but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

 ⁶ Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
       than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

 ⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
       but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

 ⁸ He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest
       amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

 ⁹ If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
       even his prayers are detestable.

 ¹⁰ He who leads the upright along an evil path
       will fall into his own trap,
       but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

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

 ¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
       but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.

 ¹³ He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
       but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

 ¹⁴ Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD,
       but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 ¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
       is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

 ¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
       but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.

 ¹⁷ A man tormented by the guilt of murder
       will be a fugitive till death;
       let no one support him.

 ¹⁸ He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
       but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.

 ¹⁹ He who works his land will have abundant food,
       but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

 ²⁰ A faithful man will be richly blessed,
       but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

 ²¹ To show partiality is not good—
       yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

 ²² A stingy man is eager to get rich
       and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

 ²³ He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
       than he who has a flattering tongue.

 ²⁴ He who robs his father or mother
       and says, "It's not wrong"—
       he is partner to him who destroys.

 ²⁵ A greedy man stirs up dissension,
       but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

 ²⁶ He who trusts in himself is a fool,
       but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

 ²⁷ He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
       but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

 ²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
       but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon
2. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor man