Proverbs 27

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.

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Proverbs 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

Verse 1 We know not what a day may bring forth. This does not forbid preparing for to-morrow, but presuming upon to-morrow. We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful. Verse 2 . There may be occasion for us to justify ourselves, ( proverbs 27:3-4 ) ( proverbs 27:5-6 ) rebukes are better, not only than secret hatred, but than love which compliments in sin, to the hurt of the soul. Verse 7 . The poor have a better relish of their enjoyments, and are often more thankful for them, than the rich. In like manner the proud and self-sufficient disdain the gospel; but those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, find comfort from the meanest book or sermon that testifies of Christ Jesus. Verse 8 . Every man has his proper place in society, where he may be safe and comfortable. ( proverbs 27:9-10 ) kindred's sake; apply to those who are at hand, and will help in need. But there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and let us place entire confidence in him. Verse 11 . An affectionate parent urges his son to prudent conduct that should gladden his heart. The good conduct of Christians is the best answer to all who find fault with the gospel. Verse 12 . Where there is temptation, if we thrust ourselves into it, there will be sin, and punishment will follow. Verse 13 . An honest man may be made a beggar, but he is not honest that makes himself one. Verse 14 . It is folly to be fond of being praised; it is a temptation to pride. ( proverbs 27:15-16 ) shower, troublesome for a time; the contentions of a wife are like constant rain. Verse 17 . We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better. Verse 18 . Though a calling be laborious and despised, yet those who keep to it, will find there is something to be got by it. God is a Master who has engaged to honour those who serve him faithfully. Verse 19 . One corrupt heart is like another; so are sanctified hearts: the former bear the same image of the earthly, the latter the same image of the heavenly. Let us carefully watch our own hearts, comparing them with the word of God. Verse 20 . Two things are here said to be never satisfied, death and sin. The appetites of the carnal mind for profit or pleasure are always desiring more. Those whose eyes are ever toward the Lord, are satisfied in him, and shall for ever be so. Verse 21 . Silver and gold are tried by putting them into the furnace and fining-pot; so is a man tried by praising him. Verse 22 . Some are so bad, that even severe methods do not answer the end; what remains but that they should be rejected? The new-creating power of God's grace alone is able to make a change. ( 23-27 ) . We ought to have some business to do in this world, and not to live in idleness, and not to meddle with what we do not understand. We must be diligent and take pains. Let us do what we can, still the world cannot be secured to us, therefore we must choose a more lasting portion; but by the blessing of God upon our honest labours, we may expect to enjoy as much of earthly blessings as is good for us.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 14

This chapter relates the sickness of Jeroboam's son, the application of his wife, at his instance, to the prophet Ahijah, in the child's favour, 1Ki 14:1-6, the prophecy of the prophet concerning the ruin of Jeroboam's house, and the death of the child, which came to pass, 1Ki 14:7-18, an account of the years of Jeroboam's reign, and also of Rehoboam's, 1Ki 14:19-21, and of the evil things done and suffered by the latter in his kingdom, and the calamities that came upon him for it, 1Ki 14:22-28 and the conclusion of his reign, 1Ki 14:29-31.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible