Chapter Twenty-Seven

1–6. Against boasting, jealousy, and hypocrisy. 7–14. Praise of temperance, true friendship, and prudence. 15–16. On the quarrelsome woman. 17–32. On discernment, care; on greed. 22–27. Exhortation to wise and thrifty household management.

Proverbs 27:1. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:2. Let another praise you, not your own mouth – a stranger, not your own tongue. Proverbs 27:3. Stone is heavy and sand is weighty; but the anger of a fool is heavier than both. Proverbs 27:4. Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming; but who can stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:5. Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:6. Faithful are the wounds of one who loves; but the kisses of one who hates are deceitful. The thought of v. 1 concerning the unsuitability for man of any decisive presumptions about tomorrow is expressed more fully by the Apostle James (Jas 4:13-15). The teaching of v. 2 on the impropriety of self-praise has become a commonplace even of worldly wisdom. In vv. 3–4, phenomena of the moral world – anger and jealousy – are compared now with physical objects (stone, sand), now with the moral likewise (anger, jealousy). The thought of vv. 5–6 on the superiority of sincere rebuke of love over deceitful caresses of hidden hate is found further below in Prov 28:23.

Proverbs 27:7. A satisfied soul tramples on the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. Proverbs 27:8. Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a man who strays from his place. Proverbs 27:9. Perfume and incense delight the heart; so does a friend with heartfelt counsel. Proverbs 27:10. Do not abandon your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in your day of distress: better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. Proverbs 27:11. Be wise, my son, and gladden my heart; and I will have an answer for the one who reproaches me. Proverbs 27:12. The prudent one sees trouble and takes refuge; but the simple go on and are punished. Proverbs 27:13. Take his garment as security, for he has put up security for a stranger; take a pledge from him for strangers. Proverbs 27:14. He who praises his friend loudly in the morning will be counted as one who curses. The sayings of this section repeatedly reiterate thoughts already expressed by the Wise One earlier; cf. v. 11 with Prov 23:15; v. 13 with Prov 20:16.

Proverbs 27:15. A continual drip in a rainy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike: Proverbs 27:16. he who tries to hide her is trying to hide the wind and to grasp oil in his hand, which makes itself known. The comparison in v. 15 for a quarrelsome woman was already encountered above Prov 19:13, and v. 16 strengthens the thought with a new comparison.

Proverbs 27:17. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens the keen perception of another. Proverbs 27:18. He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit; and he who attends to his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:19. As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:20. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.– “Proverbs 27. Prov. 27:20a. –[An abomination to the Lord is he who lifts up his eyes proudly, and those who are reckless with their tongue are unwise.]” Proverbs 27:21. What a crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold, such are mouths for praising a man.– “Proverbs 27. Prov. 27:21a. –[The heart of the wicked seeks evil; and the heart of the upright seeks knowledge.]” Proverbs 27:22. Beat a fool in a mortar with grain and a pestle, his foolishness will not depart from him. The saying of v. 18 has a wide meaning, but most closely may indicate discernment and energy in the mutual relations of friends (cf. Heb 10:24). In vv. 18–19, the mutual relations of people are depicted from a new perspective. V. 20 has the same comparison as was used earlier (Prov 15:11) but has a more particular sense here, meaning passion, especially greed, of the human heart (cf. Sir 14:9). Similarly, the comparison of v. 21 was already encountered in Prov 17:3. V. 22 presents a semi-humorous expression of the idea that foolishness ordinarily becomes, as it were, fused with the very being of a man who has had the misfortune to come under its influence.

Proverbs 27:23. Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; Proverbs 27:24. for riches are not forever, and does a crown endure from generation to generation? Proverbs 27:25. When the grass withers and new growth appears and the herbs of the hills are gathered, Proverbs 27:26. Your sheep will be for clothing and the goats will bring the price of a field. Proverbs 27:27. And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for sustenance for your servants. In the concluding words of the chapter are given counsels to apply oneself to the two main occupations of ancient Hebrews – herding (vv. 23, 24) and agriculture (v. 25), and at the same time, given the transitory and changeable nature of riches (v. 24), simplicity and moderation of food and way of life are advised (v. 27).