1 Don't boast about tomorrow; For you don't know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, And not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, And sand is a burden; But a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, And anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke Than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; Although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; But to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; So does earnest counsel from a man's friend.
10 Don't forsake your friend and your father's friend. Don't go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster: Better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.
11 Be wise, my son, And bring joy to my heart, Then I can answer my tormentor.
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it:
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger; Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be taken as a curse by him.
15 A continual dropping on a rainy day And a contentious wife are alike:
16 Restraining her is like restraining the wind, Or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 As water reflects a face, So a man's heart reflects the man.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And a man's eyes are never satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver, And the furnace for gold; But man is refined by his praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, Yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Know well the state of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds:
24 For riches are not forever, Nor does even the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, The grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing, And the goats are the price of a field.
27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, For your family's food, And for the nourishment of your servant girls.
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).