D E1 27:1-27. Against self-praise and arrogance. E2 28:1-28. Against unscrupulous dealing. E3 29:-27. Against stubbornness and insubordination.
Proverbs 27)
1 Boast not yourself of tomorrow;
For you know not what a day may bring forth. (Cp. Jas. 4:13-16. Illustrations: Jonathan [1 Sam. 23:17. Cp. 31:2]; Abner [2 Sam. 3:9,10. Cp. 3:27]; Ben-hadad [1 Kings 20:3-31. Cp. v.11]; Ahab [1 Kings 22:26,27,34-37]; Haman [Est. 5:12; 7:1,10]; Nebuchadnezzar [Dan. 4:30,31-33]; the rich fool [Luke [12:20].)
2 Let another man praise you (Illustrations; Centurian [Matt. 8;10]; John [Matt. 11:11. John 5:35]; Luke [Col. 4:14. 2 Tim. 4:11]; Epaphroditus [Phil. 2:25].), and not your own mouth;
One unknown, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;
But a fool's (= lax or careless habit of mind and body) wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;
But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better
Than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; (Illustrations: Nehemiah [Neh. 5:7-13. Cp. Neh. 6:2]; Jehu [2 Chron. 19:2-11].)
But the kisses of an enemy are effusive (i.e. abundant) and empty as vapor. Cp. Matt. 26:49.)
7 The full soul loathes an honeycomb;
But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man that wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:
So does the sweetness of a man's friend by counsel of the soul.
10 Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; (Illustrations: Hiram [1 Kings 5:1. cp. v.12]; Mephibosheth [2 Sam. 9:6,7. Cp. 21:7]; Rehoboam [1 Kings 12:6-8]; Joash [2 Chron. 24:17,18; cp. v.22].)
Neither go into your brother's house in the day of your calamity:
For better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.
11 My son (marking the structure, as being the Words of the Wise, for Solomon), be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may answer him that reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself;
But the simple pass on, and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment that is surety for an apostate,
And take a pledge of him for a foreign woman.
14 He that blesses 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 wrangling woman are alike.
16 Whosoever hides her hides the wind,
And [hides] the ointment of his right hand, which bewrays (reveal or expose) itself.
17 Iron sharpens iron;
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoso keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:
So he that waits on his master shall be honored. (Illustrations: Deborah [Gen. 35:8]; Joseph [Gen. 39:2-6,22,23]; Elisha [2 Kings 3:11]; Centurian's servant [Luke 7:8]; disciples [Luke 12:37]; soldier [Acts 10;7].)
19 As in water face answers to face,
So the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol and destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the fining pot tries silver, and the furnace tries gold;
So does a man put his praise to the test.
22 Though you should pound (or pulverize) a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And look well to your herds.
24 For riches (consisted mostly of flocks and herds) are not for ever:
And does the crown endure to every generation?
25 The hay appears, and the tender grass show itself,
And herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
And the he goats are the price of the field.
27 And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household, and for the life for your maidens.