Proverbs 27:1-27 NIrV

[1] Don’t brag about tomorrow. You don’t know what a day will bring. [2] Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth. Let an outsider praise you, and not your own lips. [3] Stones are heavy, and sand weighs a lot. But letting a foolish person make you angry is a heavier load than both of them. [4] Anger is mean, and great anger overpowers you. But who can face jealousy? [5] Being warned openly is better than being loved in secret. [6] Wounds from a friend can be trusted. But an enemy kisses you many times. [7] When you are full, you even hate honey. When you are hungry, even what is bitter tastes sweet. [8] Anyone who runs away from home is like a bird that flies away from its nest. [9] Perfume and incense bring joy to your heart. And the sweetness of a friend comes from their honest advice. [10] Don’t desert your friend or a friend of your family. And don’t go to your relative’s house when trouble strikes you. A neighbor nearby is better than a relative far away. [11] My son, be wise and bring joy to my heart. Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me. [12] Wise people see danger and go to a safe place. But childish people keep on going and suffer for it. [13] Take the coat of one who puts up money for what a stranger owes. Hold it until you get paid back if it is done for an outsider. [14] Suppose you loudly bless your neighbor early in the morning. Then you might as well be cursing him. [15] A nagging wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm. [16] Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind. It’s like trying to grab olive oil with your hand. [17] As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. [18] A person who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit. And a person who protects their master will be honored. [19] When you look into water, you see a likeness of your face. When you look into your heart, you see what you are really like. [20] Death and the Grave are never satisfied. People’s eyes are never satisfied either. [21] Fire tests silver, and heat tests gold. But people are tested by the praise they receive. [22] Suppose you could grind a foolish person in a mill. Suppose you could grind them as you would grind grain with a tool. Even then you could not remove their foolishness from them. [23] Be sure you know how your flocks are doing. Pay careful attention to your herds. [24] Riches don’t last forever. And a crown is not secure for all time to come. [25] The hay is removed, and new growth appears. The grass from the hills is gathered in. [26] Then your lambs will provide you with clothes. And the money from selling your goats will buy you a field. [27] You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family. It will also feed your female servants.