Observations of self love, 1-4; of true love, 5-10; of care to avoid offenses, 11-22; and of the household care, 23-27.
1 Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, for you do not 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 the sand weighty, but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous, but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loathes a honey-comb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, and so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Your own friend and your father's friend, do not forsake, neither go into your brother's house in the day of your calamity, for better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides 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 who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whoever hides her has hidden the wind and has grasped ointment with his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 He who keeps the fig-tree shall eat its fruit, and he who guards his master shall be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are never full, and the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the refining-pot for silver and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise.
22 Though you should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds,
24 For riches are not forever. And does the crown endure to every generation?
25 When the grass is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.
27 And you shall have enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for maintenance for your maidens.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Proverbs, Chapter 27[➚]
John Gill's Chapter Summary:
John Gill did not summarize this chapter in his exposition.
[v.26] - "and the goats the price of a field" - In other words, "and the goats will be sold for the price of a field."