1 Boast H1984 not thyself of to morrow; H4279 for thou knowest H3045 not what a day H3117 may bring forth. H3205
2 Let another man H2114 praise H1984 thee, and not thine own mouth; H6310 a stranger, H5237 and not thine own lips. H8193
3 A stone H68 is heavy, H3514 and the sand H2344 weighty; H5192 but a fool's H191 wrath H3708 is heavier H3515 than them both. H8147
4 Wrath H2534 is cruel, H395 and anger H639 is outrageous; H7858 but who is able to stand H5975 before H6440 envy? H7068
5 Open H1540 rebuke H8433 is better H2896 than secret H5641 love. H160
6 Faithful H539 are the wounds H6482 of a friend; H157 but the kisses H5390 of an enemy H8130 are deceitful. H6280
7 The full H7649 soul H5315 loatheth H947 an honeycomb; H5317 but to the hungry H7457 soul H5315 every bitter thing H4751 is sweet. H4966
8 As a bird H6833 that wandereth H5074 from her nest, H7064 so is a man H376 that wandereth H5074 from his place. H4725
9 Ointment H8081 and perfume H7004 rejoice H8055 the heart: H3820 so doth the sweetness H4986 of a man's friend H7453 by hearty H5315 counsel. H6098
10 Thine own friend, H7453 and thy father's H1 friend, H7453 forsake H5800 not; neither go H935 into thy brother's H251 house H1004 in the day H3117 of thy calamity: H343 for better H2896 is a neighbour H7934 that is near H7138 than a brother H251 far off. H7350
11 My son, H1121 be wise, H2449 and make my heart H3820 glad, H8055 that I may answer H7725 H1697 him that reproacheth H2778 me.
12 A prudent H6175 man foreseeth H7200 the evil, H7451 and hideth H5641 himself; but the simple H6612 pass on, H5674 and are punished. H6064
13 Take H3947 his garment H899 that is surety H6148 for a stranger, H2114 and take a pledge H2254 of him for a strange woman. H5237
14 He that blesseth H1288 his friend H7453 with a loud H1419 voice, H6963 rising early H7925 in the morning, H1242 it shall be counted H2803 a curse H7045 to him.
15 A continual H2956 dropping H1812 in a very rainy H5464 day H3117 and a contentious H4079 H4066 woman H802 are alike. H7737
16 Whosoever hideth H6845 her hideth H6845 the wind, H7307 and the ointment H8081 of his right hand, H3225 which bewrayeth H7121 itself.
17 Iron H1270 sharpeneth H2300 iron; H1270 so a man H376 sharpeneth H2300 the countenance H6440 of his friend. H7453
18 Whoso keepeth H5341 the fig tree H8384 shall eat H398 the fruit H6529 thereof: so he that waiteth H8104 on his master H113 shall be honoured. H3513
19 As in water H4325 face H6440 answereth to face, H6440 so the heart H3820 of man H120 to man. H120
20 Hell H7585 and destruction H11 H10 are never H3808 full; H7646 so the eyes H5869 of man H120 are never satisfied. H7646
21 As the fining pot H4715 for silver, H3701 and the furnace H3564 for gold; H2091 so is a man H376 to H6310 his praise. H4110
22 Though thou shouldest bray H3806 a fool H191 in a mortar H4388 among H8432 wheat H7383 with a pestle, H5940 yet will not his foolishness H200 depart H5493 from him.
23 Be thou diligent H3045 to know H3045 the state H6440 of thy flocks, H6629 and look H7896 well H3820 to thy herds. H5739
24 For riches H2633 are not for ever: H5769 and doth the crown H5145 endure to every H1755 generation? H1755
25 The hay H2682 appeareth, H1540 and the tender grass H1877 sheweth H7200 itself, and herbs H6212 of the mountains H2022 are gathered. H622
26 The lambs H3532 are for thy clothing, H3830 and the goats H6260 are the price H4242 of the field. H7704
27 And thou shalt have goats' H5795 milk H2461 enough H1767 for thy food, H3899 for the food H3899 of thy household, H1004 and for the maintenance H2416 for thy maidens. H5291
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 27
Commentary on Proverbs 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
Pr 27:1-27.
1. Do not confide implicitly in your plans (Pr 16:9; 19:21; Jas 4:13-15).
2. Avoid self-praise.
3. heavy—The literal sense of "heavy," applied to material subjects, illustrates its figurative, "grievous," applied to moral.
a fool's wrath—is unreasonable and excessive.
4. envy—or, "jealousy" (compare Margin; Pr 6:34), is more unappeasable than the simpler bad passions.
5, 6. secret love—not manifested in acts is useless; and even, if its exhibition by rebukes wounds us, such love is preferable to the frequent (compare Margin), and hence deceitful, kisses of an enemy.
7. The luxury of wealth confers less happiness than the healthy appetite of labor.
8. Such are not only out of place, but out of duty and in danger.
9. rejoice the heart—the organ of perceiving what pleases the senses.
sweetness … counsel—or, "wise counsel is also pleasing."
10. Adhere to tried friends. The ties of blood may be less reliable than those of genuine friendship.
11. The wisdom of children both reflects credit on parents and contributes to their aid in difficulties.
12, 13. (Compare Pr 20:16; 22:3).
14. Excessive zeal in praising raises suspicions of selfishness.
15. (Compare Pr 19:13).
very … day—literally, "a day of showers."
16. hideth—or, "restrains" (that is, tries to do it); is as fruitless an effort, as that of holding the wind.
the ointment of his right hand—the organ of power (Ps 17:7; 18:35). His right hand endeavors to repress perfume, but vainly. Some prefer: "His right hand comes on oil," that is, "cannot take hold." Such a woman cannot be tamed.
17. a man sharpeneth … friend—that is, conversation promotes intelligence, which the face exhibits.
18. Diligence secures a reward, even for the humble servant.
19. We may see our characters in the developed tempers of others.
20. Men's cupidity is as insatiable as the grave.
21. Praise tests character.
a man to his praise—according to his praise, as he bears it. Thus vain men seek it, weak men are inflated by it, wise men disregard it, &c.
22. The obstinate wickedness of such is incurable by the heaviest inflictions.
23, 24. flocks—constituted the staple of wealth. It is only by care and diligence that the most solid possessions can be perpetuated (Pr 23:5).
25-27. The fact that providential arrangements furnish the means of competence to those who properly use them is another motive to diligence (compare Ps 65:9-13).
The hay appeareth—literally, "Grass appeareth" (Job 40:15; Ps 104:14).
27. household—literally, "house," the family (Ac 16:15; 1Co 1:16).