The Bible — World English Bible
Proverbs 27
In brief
Proverbs 27 is a series of sayings about everyday life. The wise man warns against pride and against being sure of tomorrow, then devotes a long part of the chapter to relationships: anger and jealousy that destroy, the friend who corrects out of faithfulness, the neighbor nearby who is better than a brother far away. He also speaks of the reputation that reveals a person, and the chapter ends with a practical piece of advice: know the condition of your flocks and take care of what has been entrusted to you, because wealth does not last forever.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.
21The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:
24for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
Key verses
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
To boast about tomorrow is to forget that no one controls the future. The verse invites humility and dependence on God, without forbidding us to make plans.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
A friend who corrects you frankly shows his faithfulness, while the flattery of an enemy is deceptive. True friendship is willing to say what hurts in order to help you grow.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
In distress, a close neighbor can be worth more than a brother far away. The proverb urges us to nurture friendships and closeness before we need them.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
Iron sharpens iron: one person shapes another through meeting. Preachers see here the role of brotherly relationships, which sometimes rub, in a believer's growth.
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds: for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
Knowing the condition of your flocks means taking care of what has been entrusted to you, aware that wealth is not eternal.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Proverbs 27
What does iron sharpens iron mean in Proverbs 27:17?
Just as one iron blade is sharpened against another, one person shapes another. The proverb speaks of mutual influence: the advice, encouragement and even the disagreement of a friend help us make progress. Christians see in it a call to live in community rather than in isolation.
What does faithful are the wounds of a friend mean?
In verse 6, the wise man compares two attitudes: the friend who tells a hard truth and the enemy who flatters in order to deceive. A rebuke given in love can hurt, but it comes from real attachment. Verse 5 says the same: open rebuke is better than hidden love.
What is the message of Proverbs 27?
The chapter teaches humility before the future, clear thinking about anger and jealousy, and the value of frank friendships. It ends with advice on good management: take care of what you own, because wealth and even a crown do not last forever.
Articles quoting Proverbs 27
- 20 Bible Verses About Contentment
- 20 Bible Verses for the School Entrance Ceremony and New School Year in Japan
- Genesis 27: The Gateways of the Hands and Your Destiny
- James 2: Faith Alone Saves, but It Is Never Alone
- 1 Corinthians 11: Stop Following Influencers, Imitate Christ
- John 1: You Are a Voice for the Kingdom
World English Bible translation — public domain.