Historical
Chapter 27
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what any day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you, not your own mouth;
a stranger, not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy, and sand a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.(A)
4 Anger is cruel, and wrath overwhelming,
but before jealousy who can stand?[a]
5 [b]Better is an open rebuke
than a love that remains hidden.
6 Trustworthy are the blows of a friend,
dangerous, the kisses of an enemy.[c]
7 One who is full spurns honey;
but to the hungry, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird far from the nest
so is anyone far from home.[d]
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
but by grief the soul is torn asunder.
10 Do not give up your own friend and your father’s friend;
do not resort to the house of your kindred when trouble strikes.
Better a neighbor near than kin far away.[e]
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart,
so that I can answer whoever taunts me.[f]
12 The astute see an evil and hide;
the naive continue on and pay the penalty.(B)
13 Take the garment of the one who became surety for a stranger;(C)
if for a foreign woman, exact the pledge![g]
14 Those who greet their neighbor with a loud voice[h] in the early morning,
a curse can be laid to their charge.
15 For a persistent leak on a rainy day
the match is a quarrelsome wife;(D)
16 Whoever would hide her hides a stormwind
and cannot tell north from south.
17 Iron is sharpened by iron;
one person sharpens another.[i]
18 Those who tend a fig tree eat its fruit;
so those attentive to their master will be honored.
19 As face mirrors face in water,
so the heart reflects the person.
20 Sheol and Abaddon can never be satisfied;(E)
so the eyes of mortals can never be satisfied.[j]
21 The crucible for silver, the furnace for gold,
so you must assay the praise you receive.
22 Though you pound fools with a pestle,
their folly never leaves them.
23 [k]Take good care of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 For wealth does not last forever,
nor even a crown from age to age.
25 When the grass comes up and the new growth appears,
and the mountain greens are gathered in,
26 The lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats, the price of a field,
27 And there will be ample goat’s milk for your food,
food for your house, sustenance for your maidens.
Chapter 28
1 The wicked flee though none pursue;
but the just, like a lion, are confident.
2 If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many;
but with an intelligent and wise ruler there is stability.[l]
3 One who is poor and extorts from the lowly
is a devastating rain that leaves no food.[m]
4 Those who abandon instruction[n] praise the wicked,
but those who keep instruction oppose them.
5 The evil understand nothing of justice,[o]
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity
than rich and crooked in one’s ways.(F)
7 Whoever heeds instruction is a wise son,
but whoever joins with wastrels disgraces his father.
8 Whoever amasses wealth by interest and overcharge[p]
gathers it for the one who is kind to the poor.
9 Those who turn their ears from hearing instruction,(G)
even their prayer is an abomination.
10 Those who mislead the upright into an evil way
will themselves fall into their own pit,
but the blameless will attain prosperity.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes,
but the poor who are intelligent see through them.
12 When the just triumph, there is great glory;
but when the wicked prevail, people hide.[q]
13 Those who conceal their sins do not prosper,
but those who confess and forsake them obtain mercy.[r]
14 Happy those who always fear;[s]
but those who harden their hearts fall into evil.
15 A roaring lion or a ravenous bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The less prudent the rulers, the more oppressive their deeds.
Those who hate ill-gotten gain prolong their days.
17 Though a person burdened with blood guilt is in flight even to the grave,
let no one offer support.
18 Whoever walks blamelessly is safe,
but one whose ways are crooked falls into a pit.
19 Those who cultivate their land will have plenty of food,
but those who engage in idle pursuits will have plenty of want.(H)
20 The trustworthy will be richly blessed;
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.(I)
21 To show partiality is never good:(J)
for even a morsel of bread one may do wrong.[t]
22 Misers hurry toward wealth,
not knowing that want is coming toward them.[u]
23 Whoever rebukes another wins more favor
than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever defrauds father or mother and says, “It is no sin,”(K)
is a partner to a brigand.
25 The greedy person stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are safe.
27 Those who give to the poor have no lack,(L)
but those who avert their eyes, many curses.
28 When the wicked prevail, people hide;
but at their fall the just abound.(M)
Chapter 29
1 Those stiff-necked in the face of reproof
in an instant will be shattered beyond cure.[v]
2 When the just flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.[w](N)
3 Whoever loves wisdom gives joy to his father,
but whoever consorts with harlots squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king builds up the land;
but one who raises taxes tears it down.[x]
5 Those who speak flattery to their neighbor
cast a net at their feet.[y]
6 The sin of the wicked is a trap,
but the just run along joyfully.(O)
7 The just care for the cause of the poor;
the wicked do not understand such care.[z]
8 Scoffers enflame the city,
but the wise calm the fury.(P)
9 If a wise person disputes with a fool,
there is railing and ridicule but no resolution.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
but the upright seek his life.[aa]
11 Fools give vent to all their anger;
but the wise, biding their time, control it.(Q)
12 If rulers listen to lying words,
their servants all become wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor meet:(R)
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king is honestly for the rights of the poor,
his throne stands firm forever.(S)
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom,
but uncontrolled youths disgrace their mothers.(T)
16 When the wicked increase, crime increases;
but the just will behold their downfall.[ab]
17 Discipline your children, and they will bring you comfort,
and give delight to your soul.
18 Without a vision the people lose restraint;
but happy is the one who follows instruction.[ac]
19 Not by words alone can servants be trained;(U)
for they understand but do not respond.[ad]
20 Do you see someone hasty in speech?(V)
There is more hope for a fool!
21 If servants are pampered from childhood
they will turn out to be stubborn.
22 The ill-tempered stir up strife,
and the hotheaded cause many sins.(W)
23 Haughtiness brings humiliation,
but the humble of spirit acquire honor.[ae](X)
24 Partners of a thief hate themselves;[af]
they hear the imprecation but do not testify.
25 Fear of others becomes a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many curry favor with a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.
27 An abomination to the just, the evildoer;
an abomination to the wicked, one whose way is straight.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.