Proverbs

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow

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

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

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

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

5Better an open rebukethan love that is concealed.

6The wounds of a friend are faithful,but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7The soul that is full loathes honey,but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.

8Like a bird that strays from its nestis a man who wanders from his home.

9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.

10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend,and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;better a neighbor nearbythan a brother far away.

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

12The prudent see danger and take cover,but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger;get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

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

15A constant dripping on a rainy dayand a contentious woman are alike—

16restraining her is like holding back the windor grasping oil with one’s right hand.

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

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

19As water reflects the face,so the heart reflects the true man.

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

21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle,yet his folly will not depart from him.

23Be sure to know the state of your flocks,and pay close attention to your herds;

24for riches are not forever,nor does a crown endure to every generation.

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

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

27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.

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

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

3A stone is heavy,and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4Wrath is cruel,and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

5Better is open rebukethan hidden love.

6The wounds of a friend are faithful,although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

7A full soul loathes a honeycomb;but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.

8As a bird that wanders from her nest,so is a man who wanders from his home.

9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart;so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

10Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend.Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.

11Be wise, my son,and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

12A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge;but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger.Hold it for a wayward woman!

14He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,it will be taken as a curse by him.

15A continual dropping on a rainy dayand a contentious wife are alike:

16restraining her is like restraining the wind,or like grasping oil in his right hand.

17Iron sharpens iron;so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

18Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.He who looks after his master shall be honored.

19Like water reflects a face,so a man’s heart reflects the man.

20Sheoland Abaddon are never satisfied;and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

21The crucible is for silver,and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

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

23Know well the state of your flocks,and pay attention to your herds,

24for riches are not forever,nor does the crown endure to all generations.

25The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,the grasses of the hills are gathered in.

26The lambs are for your clothing,and the goats are the price of a field.

27There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.