Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Proverbs » Chapter 27

Proverbs 27:1-27 King James Version (KJV)

1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Proverbs 27:1-27 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Boast H1984 not thyself of to morrow; H4279 for thou knowest H3045 not what a day H3117 may bring forth. H3205

2 Let another man H2114 praise H1984 thee, and not thine own mouth; H6310 a stranger, H5237 and not thine own lips. H8193

3 A stone H68 is heavy, H3514 and the sand H2344 weighty; H5192 but a fool's H191 wrath H3708 is heavier H3515 than them both. H8147

4 Wrath H2534 is cruel, H395 and anger H639 is outrageous; H7858 but who is able to stand H5975 before H6440 envy? H7068

5 Open H1540 rebuke H8433 is better H2896 than secret H5641 love. H160

6 Faithful H539 are the wounds H6482 of a friend; H157 but the kisses H5390 of an enemy H8130 are deceitful. H6280

7 The full H7649 soul H5315 loatheth H947 an honeycomb; H5317 but to the hungry H7457 soul H5315 every bitter thing H4751 is sweet. H4966

8 As a bird H6833 that wandereth H5074 from her nest, H7064 so is a man H376 that wandereth H5074 from his place. H4725

9 Ointment H8081 and perfume H7004 rejoice H8055 the heart: H3820 so doth the sweetness H4986 of a man's friend H7453 by hearty H5315 counsel. H6098

10 Thine own friend, H7453 and thy father's H1 friend, H7453 forsake H5800 not; neither go H935 into thy brother's H251 house H1004 in the day H3117 of thy calamity: H343 for better H2896 is a neighbour H7934 that is near H7138 than a brother H251 far off. H7350

11 My son, H1121 be wise, H2449 and make my heart H3820 glad, H8055 that I may answer H7725 H1697 him that reproacheth H2778 me.

12 A prudent H6175 man foreseeth H7200 the evil, H7451 and hideth H5641 himself; but the simple H6612 pass on, H5674 and are punished. H6064

13 Take H3947 his garment H899 that is surety H6148 for a stranger, H2114 and take a pledge H2254 of him for a strange woman. H5237

14 He that blesseth H1288 his friend H7453 with a loud H1419 voice, H6963 rising early H7925 in the morning, H1242 it shall be counted H2803 a curse H7045 to him.

15 A continual H2956 dropping H1812 in a very rainy H5464 day H3117 and a contentious H4079 H4066 woman H802 are alike. H7737

16 Whosoever hideth H6845 her hideth H6845 the wind, H7307 and the ointment H8081 of his right hand, H3225 which bewrayeth H7121 itself.

17 Iron H1270 sharpeneth H2300 iron; H1270 so a man H376 sharpeneth H2300 the countenance H6440 of his friend. H7453

18 Whoso keepeth H5341 the fig tree H8384 shall eat H398 the fruit H6529 thereof: so he that waiteth H8104 on his master H113 shall be honoured. H3513

19 As in water H4325 face H6440 answereth to face, H6440 so the heart H3820 of man H120 to man. H120

20 Hell H7585 and destruction H11 H10 are never H3808 full; H7646 so the eyes H5869 of man H120 are never satisfied. H7646

21 As the fining pot H4715 for silver, H3701 and the furnace H3564 for gold; H2091 so is a man H376 to H6310 his praise. H4110

22 Though thou shouldest bray H3806 a fool H191 in a mortar H4388 among H8432 wheat H7383 with a pestle, H5940 yet will not his foolishness H200 depart H5493 from him.

23 Be thou diligent H3045 to know H3045 the state H6440 of thy flocks, H6629 and look H7896 well H3820 to thy herds. H5739

24 For riches H2633 are not for ever: H5769 and doth the crown H5145 endure to every H1755 generation? H1755

25 The hay H2682 appeareth, H1540 and the tender grass H1877 sheweth H7200 itself, and herbs H6212 of the mountains H2022 are gathered. H622

26 The lambs H3532 are for thy clothing, H3830 and the goats H6260 are the price H4242 of the field. H7704

27 And thou shalt have goats' H5795 milk H2461 enough H1767 for thy food, H3899 for the food H3899 of thy household, H1004 and for the maintenance H2416 for thy maidens. H5291

Proverbs 27:1-27 American Standard (ASV)

1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.

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

5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

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

7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.

9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend `that cometh' of hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, `and' hideth himself; `But' the simple pass on, `and' suffer for it.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge `that is surety' for a foreign woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:

16 He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.

19 As in water face `answereth' to face, So the heart of man to man.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is `tried' by his praise.

22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, `And' look well to thy herds:

24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?

25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;

27 And `there will be' goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.

Proverbs 27:1-27 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, For thou knowest not what a day bringeth forth.

2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, A stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone `is' heavy, and the sand `is' heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.

4 Fury `is' fierce, and anger `is' overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?

5 Better `is' open reproof than hidden love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.

7 A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And `to' a hungry soul every bitter thing `is' sweet.

8 As a bird wandering from her nest, So `is' a man wandering from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend -- from counsel of the soul.

10 Thine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better `is' a near neighbour than a brother afar off.

11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.

12 The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.

13 Take his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.

14 Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.

15 A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,

16 Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

17 Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

18 The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.

19 As `in' water the face `is' to face, So the heart of man to man.

20 Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied.

21 A refining pot `is' for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.

22 If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things -- with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.

23 Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,

24 For riches `are' not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.

25 Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.

26 Lambs `are' for thy clothing, And the price of the field `are' he-goats,

27 And a sufficiency of goats' milk `is' for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!

Proverbs 27:1-27 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.

2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than them both.

4 Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love.

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

7 The full soul trampleth on a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent [man] seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; the simple pass on, [and] are punished.

13 Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:

16 whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

17 Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.

19 As [in] water face [answereth] to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.

22 If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.

23 Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:

24 for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown [endure] from generation to generation?

25 The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field;

27 and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.

Proverbs 27:1-27 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Don't boast about tomorrow; For you don't know what a day may bring forth.

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

3 A stone is heavy, And sand is a burden; But a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

4 Wrath is cruel, And anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke Than hidden love.

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

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

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

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; So does earnest counsel from a man's friend.

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.

11 Be wise, my son, And bring joy to my heart, Then I can answer my tormentor.

12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it:

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

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

15 A continual dropping on a rainy day And a contentious wife are alike:

16 Restraining her is like restraining the wind, Or like grasping oil in his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens his friend's countenance.

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

19 As water reflects a face, So a man's heart reflects the man.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And a man's eyes are never satisfied.

21 The crucible is for silver, And the furnace for gold; But man is refined by his praise.

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

23 Know well the state of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds:

24 For riches are not forever, Nor does even the crown endure to all generations.

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

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

27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, For your family's food, And for the nourishment of your servant girls.

Proverbs 27:1-27 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be.

2 Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips.

3 A stone has great weight, and sand is crushing; but the wrath of the foolish is of greater weight than these.

4 Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?

5 Better is open protest than love kept secret.

6 The wounds of a friend are given in good faith, but the kisses of a hater are false.

7 The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird wandering from the place of her eggs is a man wandering from his station.

9 Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise suggestion of a friend is sweet to the soul.

10 Do not give up your friend and your father's friend; and do not go into your brother's house in the day of your trouble: better is a neighbour who is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to him who puts me to shame.

12 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

13 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

14 He who gives a blessing to his friend with a loud voice, getting up early in the morning, will have it put to his account as a curse.

15 Like an unending dropping on a day of rain is a bitter-tongued woman.

16 He who keeps secret the secret of his friend, will get himself a name for good faith.

17 Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.

18 Whoever keeps a fig-tree will have its fruit; and the servant waiting on his master will be honoured.

19 Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one another.

20 The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough.

21 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for.

22 Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still his foolish ways will not go from him.

23 Take care to have knowledge about the condition of your flocks, looking well after your herds;

24 For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations.

25 The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and the mountain plants are got in.

26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make the value of a field:

27 There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and for the support of your servant-girls.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 27

Commentary on Proverbs 27 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 27

Pro 27:1

Here is,

  • 1. A good caution against presuming upon time to come: Boast not thyself, no, not of to-morrow, much less of many days or years to come. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not promise ourselves the continuance of our lives and comforts till to-morrow, but speak of it with submission to the will of God and as those who with good reason are kept at uncertainty about it. We must not take thought for the morrow (Mt. 6:34), but we must cast our care concerning it upon God. See James 4:13-15. We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful, till to-morrow, as if we were sure of it, but to-day, while it is called to-day, hear God's voice.
  • 2. A good consideration, upon which this caution is grounded: We know not what a day may bring forth, what event may be in the teeming womb, of time; it is a secret till it is born, Eccl. 11:5. A little time may produce considerable changes, and such as we little think of. We know not what the present day may bring forth; the evening must commend it. Nescis quid serus vesper vehat-Thou knowest not what the close of evening may bring with it. God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events, and reserved to himself the knowledge of them, as a flower of the crown, that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event, Acts 1:7.

Pro 27:2

Note,

  • 1. We must do that which is commendable, for which even strangers may praise us. Our light must shine before men, and we must do good works that may be seen, though we must not do them on purpose that they may be seen. Let our own works be such as will praise us, even in the gates, Phil. 4:8.
  • 2. When we have done it we must not commend ourselves, for that is an evidence of pride, folly, and self-love, and a great lessening to a man's reputation. Every one will be forward to run him down that cries himself up. There may be a just occasion for us to vindicate ourselves, but it does not become us to applaud ourselves. Proprio laus sordet in ore-Self-praise defiles the mouth.

Pro 27:3-4

These two verses show the intolerable mischief,

  • 1. Of ungoverned passion. The wrath of a fool, who when he is provoked cares not what he says and does, is more grievous than a great stone or a load of sand. It lies heavily upon himself. Those who have no command of their passions do themselves even sink under the load of them. The wrath of a fool lies heavily upon those he is enraged at, to whom, in his fury, he will be in danger of doing some mischief. It is therefore our wisdom not to give provocation to a fool, but, if he be in a passion, to get out of his way.
  • 2. Of rooted malice, which is as much worse than the former as coals of juniper are worse than a fire of thorns. Wrath (it is true) is cruel, and does many a barbarous thing, and anger is outrageous; but a secret enmity at the person of another, an envy at his prosperity, and a desire of revenge for some injury or affront, are much more mischievous. One may avoid a sudden heat, as David escaped Saul's javelin, but when it grows, as Saul's did, to a settled envy, there is no standing before it; it will pursue; it will overtake. He that grieves at the good of another will be still contriving to do him hurt, and will keep his anger for ever.

Pro 27:5-6

Note,

  • 1. It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev. 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us, nor let us alone in it. The physician's care is to cure the patient's disease, not to please his palate.
  • 2. It is dangerous to be caressed and flattered by an enemy, whose kisses are deceitful We can take no pleasure in them because we can put no confidence in them (Joab's kiss and Judas's were deceitful), and therefore we have need to stand upon our guard, that we be not deluded by them; they are to be deprecated. Some read it: The Lord deliver us from an enemy's kisses, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Pro 27:7

Solomon here, as often in this book, shows that the poor have in some respects the advantage of the rich; for,

  • 1. They have a better relish of their enjoyments than the rich have. Hunger is the best sauce. Coarse fare, with a good appetite to it has a sensible pleasantness in it, which those are strangers to whose hearts are overcharged with surfeiting. Those that fare sumptuously every day nauseate even delicate food, as the Israelites did the quails; whereas those that have no more than their necessary food, though it be such as the full soul would call bitter, to them it is sweet; they eat it with pleasure, digest it, and are refreshed by it.
  • 2. They are more thankful for their enjoyments: The hungry will bless God for bread and water, while those that are full think the greatest dainties and varieties scarcely worth giving thanks for. The virgin Mary seems to refer to this when she says (Lu. 1:53), The hungry, who know how to value God's blessings, are filled with good things, but the rich, who despise them, are justly sent empty away.

Pro 27:8

Note,

  • 1. There are many that do not know when they are well off, but are uneasy with their present condition, and given to change. God, in his providence, has appointed them a place fit for them and has made it comfortable to them; but they affect unsettledness; they love to wander; they are glad of a pretence to go abroad, and do not care for staying long at a place; they needlessly absent themselves from their own work and care, and meddle with that which belongs not to them.
  • 2. Those that thus desert the post assigned to them are like a bird that wanders from her nest. It is an instance of their folly; they are like a silly bird; they are always wavering, like the wandering bird that hops from bough to bough and rests nowhere. It is unsafe; the bird that wanders is exposed; a man's place is his castle; he that quits it makes himself an easy prey to the fowler. When the bird wanders from her nest the eggs and young ones there are neglected. Those that love to be abroad leave their work at home undone. Let every man therefore, in the calling wherein he is called, therein abide, therein abide with God.

Pro 27:9-10

Here is,

  • 1. A charge given to be faithful and constant to our friends, our old friends, to keep up an intimacy with them, and to be ready to do them all the offices that lie in our power. It is good to have a friend, a bosom-friend, whom we can be free with, and with whom we may communicate counsels. It is not necessary that this friend should be a relation, or any way akin to us, though it is happiest when, among those who are so, we find one fit to make a friend of. Peter and Andrew were brethren, so were James and John; yet Solomon frequently distinguishes between a friend and a brother. But it is advisable to choose a friend among our neighbours who live near us, that acquaintance may be kept up and kindnesses the more frequently interchanged. It is good also to have a special respect to those who have been friends to our family: "Thy own friend, especially if he have been thy father's friend, forsake not; fail not both to serve him and to use him, as there is occasion. He is a tried friend; he knows thy affairs; he has a particular concern for thee; therefore be advised by him.' It is a duty we owe to our parents, when they are gone, to love their friends and consult with them. Solomon's son undid himself by forsaking the counsel of his father's friends.
  • 2. A good reason given why we should thus value true friendship and be choice of it.
    • (1.) Because of the pleasure of it. There is a great deal of sweetness in conversing and consulting with a cordial friend. It is like ointment and perfume, which are very grateful to the smell, and exhilarate the spirits. It rejoices the heart; the burden of care is made lighter by unbosoming ourselves to our friend, and it is a great satisfaction to us to have his sentiments concerning our affairs. The sweetness of friendship lies not in hearty mirth, and hearty laughter, but in hearty counsel, faithful advice, sincerely given and without flattery, by counsel of the soul (so the word is), counsel which reaches the case, and comes to the heart, counsel about soul-concerns, Ps. 66:16. We should reckon that the most pleasant conversation which is about spiritual things, and promotes the prosperity of the soul.
    • (2.) Because of the profit and advantage of it, especially in a day of calamity. We are here advised not to go into a brother's house, not to expect relief from a kinsman merely for kindred-sake, for the obligation of that commonly goes little further than calling cousin and fails when it comes to the trial of a real kindness, but rather to apply ourselves to our neighbours, who are at hand, and will be ready to help us at an exigence. It is wisdom to oblige them by being neighbourly, and we shall have the benefit of it in distress, by finding them so to us, ch. 18:24.

Pro 27:11

Children are here exhorted to be wise and good,

  • 1. That they may be a comfort to their parents and may make their hearts glad, even when the evil days come, and so recompense them for their care, ch. 23:15.
  • 2. That they may be a credit to them: "That I may answer him that reproaches me with having been over-strict and severe in bringing up my children, and having taken a wrong method with them in restraining them from the liberties which other young people take. My son, be wise, and then it will appear, in the effect, that I went the wisest way to work with my children.' Those that have been blessed with a religious education should in every thing conduct themselves so as to be a credit to their education and to silence those who say, A young saint, an old devil; and to prove the contrary, A young saint, an old angel.

Pro 27:12

This we had before, ch. 22:3. Note,

  • 1. Evil may be foreseen. Where there is temptation, it is easy to foresee that if we thrust ourselves into it there will be sin, and as easy to foresee that if we venture upon the evil of sin there will follow the evil of punishment; and, commonly, God warns before he wounds, having set watchmen over us, Jer. 6:17.
  • 2. It will be well or ill with us according as we do or do not improve the foresight we have of evil before us: The prudent man, foreseeing the evil, forecasts accordingly, and hides himself, but the simple is either so dull that he does not foresee it or so wilful and slothful that he will take no care to avoid it, and so he passes on securely and is punished. We do well for ourselves when we provide for hereafter.

Pro 27:13

This also we had before, ch. 20:16.

  • 1. It shows who those are that are hastening to poverty, those that have so little consideration as to be bound for every body that will ask them and those that are given to women. Such as these will take up money as far as ever their credit will go, but they will certainly cheat their creditors at last, nay, they are cheating them all along. An honest man may be made a beggar, but he is not honest that makes himself one.
  • 2. It advises us to be so discreet in ordering our affairs as not to lend money to those who are manifestly wasting their estates, unless they give very good security for it. Foolish lending is injustice to our families. He does not say, "Get another to be bound with him,' for he that makes himself a common voucher will have those to be his security who are as insolvent as himself; therefore take his garment.

Pro 27:14

Note,

  • 1. It is a great folly to be extravagant in praising even the best of our friends and benefactors. It is our duty to give every one his due praise, to applaud those who excel in knowledge, virtue, and usefulness, and to acknowledge the kindnesses we have received with thankfulness; but to do this with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, to be always harping on this string, in all companies, even to our friend's face, or so as that he may be sure to hear it, to do it studiously, as we do that which we rise early to, to magnify the merits of our friend above measure and with hyperboles, is fulsome, and nauseous, and savours of hypocrisy and design. Praising men for what they have done is only to get more out of them; and every body concludes the parasite hopes to be well paid for his panegyric or epistle dedicatory. We must not give that praise to our friend which is due to God only, as some think is intimated in rising early to do it; for in the morning God is to be praised. We must not make too much haste to praise men (so some understand it), not cry up men too soon for their abilities and performances, but let them first be proved; lest they be lifted up with pride, and laid to sleep in idleness.
  • 2. It is a greater folly to be fond of being ourselves extravagantly praised. A wise man rather counts it a curse, and a reflection upon him, not only designed to pick his pocket, but which may really turn to his prejudice. Modest praises (as a great man observes) invite such as are present to add to the commendation, but immodest immoderate praises tempt them to detract rather, and to censure one that they hear over-commended. And, besides, over-praising a man makes him the object of envy; every man puts in for a share of reputation, and therefore reckons himself injured if another monopolize it or have more given him than his share. And the greatest danger of all is that it is a temptation to pride; men are apt to think of themselves above what is meet when others speak of them above what is meet. See how careful blessed Paul was not to be over-valued, 2 Co. 12:6.

Pro 27:15-16

Here, as before, Solomon laments the case of him that has a peevish passionate wife, that is continually chiding, and making herself and all about her uneasy.

  • 1. It is a grievance that there is no avoiding, for it is like a continual dropping in a very rainy day. The contentions of a neighbour may be like a sharp shower, troublesome for the time, yet, while it lasts, one may take shelter; but the contentions of a wife are like a constant soaking rain, for which there is no remedy but patience See ch. 19:13.
  • 2. It is a grievance that there is no concealing. A wise man would hide it if he could, for the sake both of his own and his wife's reputation, but he cannot, any more than he can conceal the noise of the wind when it blows or the smell of a strong perfume. Those that are froward and brawling will proclaim their own shame, even when their friends, in kindness to them, would cover it.

Pro 27:17

This intimates both the pleasure and the advantage of conversation. One man is nobody; nor will poring upon a book in a corner accomplish a man as the reading and studying of men will. Wise and profitable discourse sharpens men's wits; and those that have ever so much knowledge may by conference have something added to them. It sharpens men's looks, and, by cheering the spirits, puts a briskness and liveliness into the countenance, and gives a man such an air as shows he is pleased himself and makes him pleasing to those about him. Good men's graces are sharpened by converse with those that are good, and bad men's lusts and passions are sharpened by converse with those that are bad, as iron is sharpened by its like, especially by the file. Men are filed, made smooth, and bright, and fit for business (who were rough, and dull, and inactive), by conversation. This is designed,

  • 1. To recommend to us this expedient for sharpening ourselves, but with a caution to take heed whom we choose to converse with, because the influence upon us is so great either for the better or for the worse.
  • 2. To direct us what we must have in our eye in conversation, namely to improve both others and ourselves, not to pass away time or banter one another, but to provoke one another to love and to good works and so to make one another wiser and better.

Pro 27:18

This is designed to encourage diligence, faithfulness, and constancy, even in mean employments. Though the calling be laborious and despicable, yet those who keep to it will find there is something to be got by it.

  • 1. Let not a poor gardener, who keeps the fig-tree, be discouraged; though it require constant care and attendance to nurse up fig-trees, and, when they have grown to maturity, to keep them in good order, and gather the figs in their season, yet he shall be paid for his pains: He shall eat the fruit of it, 1 Co. 9:7.
  • 2. Nay, let not a poor servant think himself incapable of thriving and being preferred; for if he be diligent in waiting on his master, observant of him and obedient to him, if he keep his master (so the word is), if he do all he can for the securing of his person and reputation and take care that his estate be not wasted or damaged, such a one shall be honoured, shall not only get a good word, but be preferred and rewarded. God is a Master who has engaged to put an honour on those that serve him faithfully, Jn. 12:26.

Pro 27:19

This shows us that there is a way,

  • 1. Of knowing ourselves. As the water is a looking-glass in which we may see our faces by reflection, so there are mirrors by which the heart of a man is discovered to a man, that is, to himself. Let a man examine his own conscience, his thoughts, affections, and intentions. Let him behold his natural face in the glass of the divine law (Jam. 1:23), and he may discern what kind of man he is and what is his true character, which it will be of great use to every man rightly to know.
  • 2. Of knowing one another by ourselves; for, as there is a similitude between the face of a man and the reflection of it in the water, so there is between one man's heart and another's for God has fashioned men's hearts alike; and in many cases we may judge of others by ourselves, which is one of the foundations on which that rule is built of doing to others as we would be done by, Ex. 23:9 Nihil est unum uni tam simile, tam par, quam omnes inter nosmet ipsos sumus. Sui nemo ipse tam similis quam omnes sunt omnium-No one thing is so like another as man is to man. No person is so like himself as each person is to all besides. Cic. de Legib. lib. 1. One corrupt heart is like another, and so is one sanctified heart, for the former bears the same image of the earthy, the latter the same image of the heavenly.

Pro 27:20

Two things are here said to be insatiable, and they are two things near of kin-death and sin.

  • 1. Death is insatiable. The first death, the second death, both are so. The grave is not clogged with the multitude of dead bodies that are daily thrown into it, but is still an open sepulchre, and cries, Give, give. Hell also has enlarged itself, and still has room for the damned spirits that are committed to that prison. Tophet is deep and large, Isa. 30:33.
  • 2. Sin is insatiable: The eyes of man are never satisfied, nor the appetites of the carnal mind towards profit or pleasure. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is he the loves silver satisfied with silver. Men labour for that which surfeits, but satisfies not; nay, it is dissatisfying; but satisfies not; nay, it is dissatisfying; such a perpetual uneasiness have men justly been doomed to ever since our first parents were not satisfied with all the trees of Eden, but they must meddle with the forbidden tree. Those whose eyes are ever toward the Lord in him are satisfied, and shall for ever be so.

Pro 27:21

This gives us a touchstone by which we may try ourselves. Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is man tried by praising him. Let him be extolled and preferred, and then he will show himself what he is.

  • 1. If a man be made, by the applause that is given him, proud, conceited, and scornful,-if he take the glory to himself which he should transmit to God, as Herod did,-if, the more he is praised, the more careless he is of what he says and does,-if he lie in bed till noon because his name is up, thereby it will appear that he is a vain foolish man, and a man who, though he be praised, has nothing in him truly praise-worthy.
  • 2. If, on the contrary, a man is made by his praise more thankful to God, more respectful to his friends, more watchful against every thing that may blemish his reputation, more diligent to improve himself, and do good to others, that he may answer the expectations of his friends from him, by this it will appear that he is a wise and good man. He has a good temper of mind who knows how to pass by evil report and good report, and is still the same, 2 Co. 6:8.

Pro 27:22

Solomon had said (ch. 22:15), The foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child may be driven out by the rod of correction, for then the mind is to be moulded, the vicious habits not having taken root; but here he shows that, if it be not done then, it will be next to impossible to do it afterwards; if the disease be inveterate, there is a danger of its being incurable. Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Observe,

  • 1. Some are so bad that rough and severe methods must be used with them, after gentle means have been tried in vain; they must be brayed in a mortar. God will take this way with them by his judgments; the magistrates must take this way with them by the rigour of the law. Force must be used with those that will not be ruled by reason, and love, and their own interest.
  • 2. Some are so incorrigibly bad that even those rough and severe methods do not answer the end, their foolishness will not depart from them, so fully are their hearts set in them to do evil; they are often under the rod and yet not humbled, in the furnace and yet not refined, but, like Ahaz, trespass yet more (2 Chr. 28:22); and what remains then but that they should be rejected as reprobate silver?

Pro 27:23-27

Here is,

  • I. A command given us to be diligent in our callings. It is directed to husbandmen and shepherds, and those that deal in cattle, but it is to be extended to all other lawful callings; whatever our business is, within doors or without, we must apply our minds to it. This command intimates,
    • 1. That we ought to have some business to do in this world and not to live in idleness.
    • 2. We ought rightly and fully to understand our business, and know what we have to do, and not meddle with that which we do not understand.
    • 3. We ought to have an eye to it ourselves, and not turn over all the care of it to others. We should, with our own eyes, inspect the state of our flocks, it is the master's eye that makes them fat.
    • 4. We must be discreet and considerate in the management of our business, know the state of things, and look well to them, that nothing may be lost, no opportunity let slip, but every thing done in proper time and order, and so as to turn to the best advantage.
    • 5. We must be diligent and take pains; not only sit down and contrive, but be up and doing: "Set thy heart to thy herds, as one in care; lay thy hands, lay thy bones, to thy business.'
  • II. The reasons to enforce this command. Consider,
    • 1. The uncertainty of worldly wealth (v. 24): Riches are not for ever.
      • (1.) Other riches are not so durable as these are: "Look well to thy flocks and herds, thy estate in the country and the stock upon that, for these are staple commodities, which, in a succession, will be for ever, whereas riches in trade and merchandise will not be so; the crown itself may perhaps not be so sure to thy family as thy flocks and herds.'
      • (2.) Even these riches will go to decay if they be not well looked after. If a man had an abbey (as we say), and were slothful and wasteful, he might make an end of it. Even the crown and the revenues of it, if care be not taken, will suffer damage, nor will it continue to every generation without very good management. Though David had the crown entailed on his family, yet he looked well to his flocks, 1 Chr. 27:29, 31.
    • 2. The bounty and liberality of nature, or rather of the God of nature, and his providence (v. 25): The hay appears. In taking care of the flocks and herds,
      • (1.) "There needs no great labour, no ploughing or sowing; the food for them is the spontaneous product of the ground; thou hast nothing to do but to turn them into it in the summer, when the grass shows itself, and to gather the herbs of the mountains for them against winter. God has done his part; thou art ungrateful to him, and unjustly refusest to serve his providence, if thou dost not do thine.'
      • (2.) "There is an opportunity to be observed and improved, a time when the hay appears; but, if thou let slip that time, thy flocks and herds will fare the worse for it. As for ourselves, so for our cattle, we ought, with the ant, to provide meat in summer.'
    • 3. The profit of good husbandry in a family: "Keep thy sheep, and thy sheep will help to keep thee; thou shalt have food for thy children and servants, goats' milk enough (v. 27); and enough is as good as a feast. Thou shalt have raiment likewise: the lambs' wool shall be for thy clothing. Thou shalt have money to pay thy rent; the goats thou shalt have to sell shall be the price of thy field;' nay, as some understand it, "Thou shalt become a purchaser, and buy land to leave to thy children,' (v. 26). Note,
      • (1.) If we have food and raiment, and wherewithal to give every body his own, we have enough, and ought to be not only content, but thankful.
      • (2.) Masters of families must provide not only for themselves, but for their families, and see that their servants have a fitting maintenance.
      • (3.) Plain food and plain clothing, if they be but competent, are all we should aim at. "Reckon thyself well done to if thou be clothed with home-spun cloth with the fleece of thy own lambs, and fed with goats' milk; let that serve for thy food which serves for the food of thy household and the maintenance of thy maidens. Be not desirous of dainties, far-fetched and dear-bought.'
      • (4.) This should encourage us to be careful and industrious about our business, that that will bring in a sufficient maintenance for our families; we shall eat the labour of our hands.