Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 27 continues the Hezekiah-edited Solomonic-collection with strong emphasis on friendship (vv. 5–6, 9–10, 17), self-knowledge (v. 19), and shepherding (vv. 23–27). Verse 1 — 'do not boast about tomorrow' — is cited at James 4:13–14. Verse 17 — 'iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another' — is foundational-friendship-image.
Notable Variants
27:1 'boast not about tomorrow' → James 4:13–14; 27:6 'faithful are the wounds of a friend'; 27:17 'iron sharpens iron' — friendship-ethics foundation.
Structural Notes
MT Prov 27 = LXX Prov 27. 27 verses.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may give birth to.
'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring' tracks MT. JAMES 4:13–14 ECHO. 'Come now, you who say: Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit — yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?' James directly engages this proverb's anti-presumption theology. Luke 12:20 ('this night your soul is required of you') Christologically-extends.
Let another person praise you, not your own mouth — a stranger, not your own lips.
'Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips' tracks MT.
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation outweighs them both.
'A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both' tracks MT.
Fury is cruel and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?
'Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?' tracks MT. JEALOUSY-WORSE-THAN-WRATH. Song of Songs 8:6 ('jealousy is fierce as the grave') extends.
Open rebuke is better than love that stays hidden.
'Better is open rebuke than hidden love' tracks MT. OPEN-REBUKE-BETTER — honest-confrontation ethic.
Trustworthy are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.
'Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy' tracks MT. FAITHFUL-WOUNDS-OF-FRIEND — friend who tells-the-hard-truth is more-trustworthy than flatterer-enemy.
A satisfied appetite tramples on honey, but to a hungry appetite every bitter thing is sweet.
'One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet' tracks MT.
Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a person who strays from his place.
'Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home' tracks MT.
Oil and incense make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from sincere counsel.
'Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel' tracks MT.
Do not abandon your friend or your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house on the day of your disaster. Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
'Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away' tracks MT. NEAR-NEIGHBOR-BETTER-THAN-FAR-BROTHER — friendship-theology. Luke 10:25–37 (Good Samaritan: 'who is my neighbor?') Christologically extends.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so I can answer anyone who mocks me.
'Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me' tracks MT.
The shrewd person sees danger and takes cover; the naive walk straight into it and pay the price.
'The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it' tracks MT. // Prov 22:3.
Take his garment — he has guaranteed a stranger's debt; hold it as collateral — he has pledged for a foreign woman.
'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' tracks MT.
Blessing your neighbor in a loud voice early in the morning — it will be counted as a curse.
'Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing' tracks MT.
A constant dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike.
'A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike' tracks MT. // Prov 19:13.
Trying to restrain her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with your right hand.
'To restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand' tracks MT.
Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the face of another.
'Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another' tracks MT. IRON-SHARPENS-IRON — classic friendship-ethics image. The mutual-formation-of-companions. Hebrews 10:24–25 ('consider how to stir up one another to love and good works') extends.
Whoever tends a fig tree eats its fruit, and whoever serves his master will be honored.
'Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored' tracks MT.
As water reflects a face back to a face, so the human heart reflects the person.
'As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man' tracks MT. WATER-FACE-REFLECTION — self-knowledge-through-reflection. 1 Cor 13:12 ('we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face') extends.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of a person are never satisfied.
'Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man' tracks MT. INSATIABLE-EYES — anthropological diagnostic. Eccl 1:8 ('the eye is not satisfied with seeing') parallels.
The crucible tests silver and the furnace tests gold, and a person is tested by the praise he receives.
'The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise' tracks MT.
Even if you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle among the grain, his foolishness will not leave him.
'Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him' tracks MT. FOLLY-PERSISTS imagery.
Know well the condition of your flocks; pay close attention to your herds.
'Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds' tracks MT. SHEPHERD-ATTENTIVENESS. John 10:14 ('I am the good shepherd; I know my own') extends Christologically.
For wealth does not last forever, and does a crown endure from generation to generation?
'For riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?' tracks MT.
When the grass is removed and new growth appears and the mountain herbs are gathered in,
'When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered' tracks MT.
lambs will provide your clothing, and goats will be the price for a field.
'The lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field' tracks MT.
There will be enough goat's milk for your food, food for your household, and sustenance for your servant girls.
'There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls' tracks MT. CLOSES with pastoral-household-sufficiency image.