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Proverbs 27-29
English Standard Version
Proverbs 27-29
English Standard Version
27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
(A)for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let (B)another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but (C)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before (D)jealousy?
5 (E)Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Faithful are (F)the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
7 One who is full loathes (G)honey,
but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
8 Like (H)a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
9 (I)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.[a]
10 Do not forsake your friend and (J)your father's friend,
and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
(K)Better is a neighbor who is near
than a brother who is far away.
11 (L)Be wise, (M)my son, and (N)make my heart glad,
that I may (O)answer him who reproaches me.
12 (P)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but (Q)the simple go on and suffer for it.
13 (R)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.[b]
14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
will be counted as cursing.
15 (S)A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp[c] oil in one's right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.[d]
18 (T)Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who (U)guards his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.
20 (V)Sheol and Abaddon are (W)never satisfied,
and (X)never satisfied are the eyes of man.
21 (Y)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and a man is tested by his praise.
22 (Z)Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
along with crushed grain,
yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 (AA)Know well the condition of your flocks,
and (AB)give attention to your herds,
24 for (AC)riches do not last forever;
and does a crown endure to all generations?
25 (AD)When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
26 (AE)the lambs will provide your clothing,
and the goats the price of a field.
27 (AF)There will be enough goats' milk for your food,
for the food of your household
and maintenance for your girls.
28 (AG)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but (AH)the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 When a land transgresses, (AI)it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.
3 (AJ)A poor man who oppresses the poor
is a beating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law (AK)praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law (AL)strive against them.
5 Evil men (AM)do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord (AN)understand it completely.
6 (AO)Better is a poor man who (AP)walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is (AQ)crooked in his ways.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
but (AR)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 Whoever multiplies his wealth (AS)by interest and profit[e]
(AT)gathers it for him who is (AU)generous to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his (AV)prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
(AW)will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless (AX)will have a goodly inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his (AY)own eyes,
but a poor man who has understanding (AZ)will find him out.
12 When (BA)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when (BB)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever (BC)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who (BD)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who (BE)fears the Lord[f] always,
but whoever (BF)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
15 Like (BG)a roaring lion or (BH)a charging bear
is (BI)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A ruler who (BJ)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 If one is burdened with (BK)the blood of another,
he will be a fugitive until death;[g]
let no one help him.
18 (BL)Whoever (BM)walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 (BN)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich (BO)will not go unpunished.
21 To show (BP)partiality is not good,
but for (BQ)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A (BR)stingy man[h] (BS)hastens after wealth
and does not know that (BT)poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever (BU)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than (BV)he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is (BW)a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man (BX)stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will (BY)be enriched.
26 Whoever (BZ)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever (CA)gives to the poor will not want,
but he who (CB)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When (CC)the wicked rise, (CD)people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 (CE)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (CF)broken (CG)beyond healing.
2 When (CH)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (CI)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (CJ)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (CK)a companion of prostitutes (CL)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (CM)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[i] tears it down.
5 (CN)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (CO)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (CP)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (CQ)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (CR)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (CS)understand such knowledge.
8 (CT)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (CU)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (CV)hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.[j]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (CW)meet together;
the Lord (CX)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (CY)faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will (CZ)be established forever.
15 (DA)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself (DB)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but (DC)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (DD)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (DE)there is no prophetic vision the people (DF)cast off restraint,[k]
but blessed is he who (DG)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
(DH)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.[l]
22 (DI)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (DJ)One's pride will bring him low,
(DK)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (DL)hates his own life;
(DM)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (DN)The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (DO)seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man (DP)gets justice.
27 (DQ)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:9 Or and so does the sweetness of a friend that comes from his earnest counsel
- Proverbs 27:13 Hebrew a foreign woman; a slight emendation yields (compare Vulgate; see also 20:16) foreigners
- Proverbs 27:16 Hebrew to meet with
- Proverbs 27:17 Hebrew sharpens the face of another
- Proverbs 28:8 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor
- Proverbs 28:14 Hebrew lacks the Lord
- Proverbs 28:17 Hebrew until the pit
- Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
- Proverbs 29:10 Or but the upright seek his soul
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew word rendered his heir is uncertain
Proverbs 27-29
New International Version
Proverbs 27-29
New International Version
2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
an outsider, and not your own lips.(C)
3 Stone is heavy and sand(D) a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?(E)
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.(F)
7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
8 Like a bird that flees its nest(G)
is anyone who flees from home.
9 Perfume(H) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(I) strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(J)
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(K)
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(L)
13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(M)
14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
it will be taken as a curse.
15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(N)
of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(O)
and whoever protects their master will be honored.(P)
19 As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]
21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(S)
but people are tested by their praise.
22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
grinding them like grain with a pestle,
you will not remove their folly from them.
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(T)
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(U)
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants.
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler[c] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.(Y)
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(Z)
8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(AA) or profit from the poor
amasses it for another,(AB) who will be kind to the poor.(AC)
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.(AD)
10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,(AE)
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(AF)
but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(AG)
13 Whoever conceals their sins(AH) does not prosper,
but the one who confesses(AI) and renounces them finds mercy.(AJ)
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
will seek refuge(AK) in the grave;
let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(AL)
but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(AM) into the pit.[d]
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(AN)
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(AO)
22 The stingy are eager to get rich
and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(AS)
23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(AT)
24 Whoever robs their father or mother(AU)
and says, “It’s not wrong,”
is partner to one who destroys.(AV)
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(BA)
but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(BB)
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(BC)
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
29 Whoever remains stiff-necked(BD) after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed(BE)—without remedy.(BF)
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;(BG)
when the wicked rule,(BH) the people groan.(BI)
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,(BJ)
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.(BK)
4 By justice a king gives a country stability,(BL)
but those who are greedy for[e] bribes tear it down.
5 Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.(BM)
6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,(BN)
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,(BO)
but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.(BP)
9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.(BQ)
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.(BV)
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.(BW)
15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.(BX)
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.(BY)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.(BZ)
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(CA)
19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.
20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(CB)
21 A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.
22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(CC)
24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.(CF)
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.(CL)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
- Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
- Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
- Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who give
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.