The Word Am I

The Proverbs

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 27 -

Wisdom and human knowledge

(James 4:13-17)
1
Boast not for tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day to come may bring forth.
2
Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3
A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than them both.
4
Anger hath no mercy, nor fury when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked?
5
Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6
Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy.
7
A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet.
8
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth his place.
9
Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.
10
Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend forsake not: and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother afar off.
11
Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth.
12
The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses.
13
Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and take from him a pledge for strangers.
14
He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, shall be like to him that curseth.
15
Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman are alike.
16
He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call in the oil of his right hand.

The discontent of man

17
Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18
He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified.
19
As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so-the hearts of men are laid open to the wise.
20
Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied.
21
As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.
22
Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him.
23
Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks:
24
For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation.
25
The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains.
26
Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field.
27
Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids.

Wisdom and human knowledge

(James 4:13-17)
1
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
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
The wounds of a friend are faithful, 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. A neighbor who is near is better 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.

The discontent of man

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
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20
Sheol (a) 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 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 goatsmilk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.

Footnotes

(a)27:20 Sheol is the place of the dead.