Proverbs 27

King James Version

Full text for Proverbs Chapter 27

1¶ Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2¶ Let another man 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 wrath [is] heavier than them both.

4Wrath [is] cruel, and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand before envy?

5¶ Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.

6Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful.

7¶ The full soul loatheth an 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: so [doth] the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

10Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off.

11¶ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

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

13¶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

15¶ A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, [which] bewrayeth [itself].

17¶ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18¶ Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

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

20¶ Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21¶ [As] the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so [is] a man to his praise.

22¶ Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, [yet] will not his foolishness depart from him.

23¶ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds.

24For riches [are] not for ever: and doth the crown [endure] to every generation?

25The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26The lambs [are] for thy clothing, and the goats [are] the price of the field.

27And [thou shalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance for thy maidens.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Proverbs 27 offers diverse wisdom on personal conduct and relationships. It cautions against boasting of the future and highlights the destructive nature of wrath and envy. The chapter emphasizes the value of honest friendship and diligent stewardship, contrasting these with the folly of a contentious spirit and insatiable desires.

Medium Summary

This chapter of Proverbs provides a collection of maxims concerning wisdom, human nature, and social interactions. It begins by admonishing against presumptuous boasting about future events and encourages humility by suggesting one's praise should come from others. The text contrasts the heavy burden of a fool's wrath with the cruelty of anger and the power of envy. It extols the virtue of open, honest rebuke from a friend over insincere affection, likening faithful wounds to deceitful enemy kisses. Practical advice includes maintaining loyalty to friends, foreseeing evil, and recognizing the futility of trying to hide a contentious woman. The chapter concludes with a call for diligent care of one's flocks, reminding the reader that riches are not eternal and that consistent effort provides sustenance.

Long Summary

Proverbs chapter 27 delivers a series of pithy proverbs covering a wide array of life's principles. It opens with a caution against boasting about tomorrow, reminding individuals of the uncertainty of future events. Humility is further promoted by the counsel that one's praise should come from others, not from oneself. The text then delves into the destructive power of negative emotions, stating that a fool's wrath is heavier than stone or sand, and that while wrath and anger are cruel, envy is an even more formidable force. The value of genuine relationships is underscored, asserting that open rebuke from a friend is superior to hidden affection, and that a friend's corrective "wounds" are more trustworthy than an enemy's deceptive "kisses." The chapter also touches on human contentment, noting that a full soul disdains even sweetness, while a hungry soul finds all things palatable. It advises against wandering from one's proper place, likening it to a bird straying from its nest. The importance of loyal friendship is reiterated, suggesting that a nearby neighbor can be more helpful in calamity than a distant brother. Prudence is commended as the ability to foresee and avoid evil, contrasting with the simple who suffer punishment. Warnings are given against suretyship for strangers and the futility of a contentious woman, whose nature is as uncontainable as the wind. The chapter offers a powerful metaphor for mutual improvement, stating that "iron sharpeneth iron," symbolizing how friends refine each other. It connects diligence to reward, observing that one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and a servant who waits on his master will be honored. Further insights into human nature include the insatiable desires of man, likened to hell and destruction, and the incorrigibility of a fool, whose foolishness persists despite harsh treatment. The chapter concludes with an exhortation to diligent husbandry, emphasizing the transient nature of wealth and crowns, and illustrating how careful tending of flocks provides lasting sustenance for a household.

Core Concepts

  • Uncertainty of TomorrowThe chapter begins by cautioning against boasting about future plans, as one cannot know what a single day may bring forth, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of life.
  • Value of True FriendshipThis concept highlights that honest, even critical, counsel from a friend is more valuable than insincere flattery. True friends mutually sharpen and support each other, offering faithful wounds over deceitful kisses.
  • Dangers of Negative EmotionsThe text illustrates the destructive power of a fool's wrath, which is described as heavier than stone or sand. It also notes the cruelty of anger and the formidable, enduring nature of envy.
  • Human Nature and DesiresProverbs 27 explores the contrast between satiety and hunger, where a full soul loathes even sweetness. It also touches on the insatiable nature of human desires, likened to hell and destruction, and the stubborn persistence of a fool's folly despite correction.
  • Prudence and DiligenceThe chapter encourages foresight to avoid evil and diligent stewardship of one's resources, particularly flocks. It suggests that consistent effort in husbandry provides lasting provision, contrasting with the transient nature of riches and crowns.
  • The Contentious WomanA woman given to quarreling is described as a persistent nuisance, likened to a continual dripping on a rainy day. Her nature is portrayed as difficult to conceal or control, much like trying to hide the wind.