1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, For thou knowest not what a day bringeth forth.
2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, A stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone `is' heavy, and the sand `is' heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.
4 Fury `is' fierce, and anger `is' overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
5 Better `is' open reproof than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.
7 A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And `to' a hungry soul every bitter thing `is' sweet.
8 As a bird wandering from her nest, So `is' a man wandering from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend -- from counsel of the soul.
10 Thine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better `is' a near neighbour than a brother afar off.
11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.
12 The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.
13 Take his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.
14 Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.
15 A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,
16 Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.
17 Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
18 The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.
19 As `in' water the face `is' to face, So the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied.
21 A refining pot `is' for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.
22 If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things -- with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.
23 Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,
24 For riches `are' not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.
25 Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.
26 Lambs `are' for thy clothing, And the price of the field `are' he-goats,
27 And a sufficiency of goats' milk `is' for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!
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).