Proverbs chapter 27

Proverbs of Solomon collected by Hezekiah’s team, continued.

 


 

PROVERBS OF SOLOMON COLLECTED BY HEZEKIAH’S TEAM, CONTINUED

 

VERSE 1. Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Proverbs and from the entire Bible.

KJV translation: BOAST not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

you don’t know. Lots of us plan for the future. But we don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. We should say “God-willing” and speak tentatively of our future. Read  more »

 

VERSE 2. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

not your own mouth. If you praise yourself, you are prideful.

 

VERSE 3. A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

a fool’s provocation. That is, letting a fool provoke you.

is heavier. Letting a fool provoke you is a heavy burden.

 

VERSE 4. Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

 

VERSE 5. Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

open rebuke. Fraternal correction is evidence of brotherly love.

 

VERSE 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

 

VERSE 7. A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.

 

VERSE 8. As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.

 

VERSE 9. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

earnest counsel from a man’s friend. Good advice helps to lift our burdens.

 

VERSE 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.

 

VERSE 11. Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

bring joy to my heart. This repeats the familiar theme from Solomon that a wise son brings joy to his father’s heart.

 

VERSE 12. A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

 

VERSE 13. Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!

 

VERSE 14. He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.

will be taken as a curse. Timing and sensitivity to others who are sleeping are important.

 

VERSE 15. A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:

a contentious wife. This repeats the familiar theme from Solomon about an annoying wife.

He is quick to blame the wife, but hardly ever blames the husband. He does not talk about an annoying husband.

The Book of Proverbs often reveals a deeply negative view of women. That probably reflects a misogynistic personality on the part of the men who wrote the book. Read more »

 

VERSE 16. restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

 

VERSE 17. Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

NIV translation: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Proverbs and from the entire Bible.

one man sharpens another. A close spiritual friend is one of the greatest allies you can have in the spiritual life.

You “sharpen” one another. You fire one another up for Jesus Christ and living the faith.

Do you have a spiritual friend? If not, how can you start to look for one?

Sirach 6:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence; And he that has found him has found a treasure.

Sirach 6:15. There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend; And his excellency is beyond price.

 

VERSE 18. Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.

Whoever tends the fig tree. To be able to eat the fruit of a fig tree, it must first be nurtured and cultivated.

looks after his master. If you do your job well, you will be honored.

 

VERSE 19. Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

 

VERSE 20. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

Sheol and Abaddon. The New Testament describes heaven and eternal life. But what does the Old Testament say about life after death? Read more »

 

VERSE 21. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

 

VERSE 22. Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

 

VERSE 23. Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:

NAB translation: Take good care of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.

Take good care of your flocks. This is great advice for any Christian who ministers to other believers. How are your people doing?

 

VERSE 24. for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.

 

VERSE 25. The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.

 

VERSE 26. The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.

 

VERSE 27. There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.

 


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PROVERBS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

RESOURCES: SummaryOutline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.