Menu
Proverbs 27: Wise Sayings
When should we have confidence in tomorrow?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:1 Bragging about tomorrow is foolish since you don’t know what will happen.
Matthew 6:34 Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have its own worries. Today’s problems are enough for today.
Romans 8:28 All those who love God and are working to fulfill his purpose should know that all things will work together for good.
King James
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Of what value is patting ourselves on the back? Why? What should we think about compliments we receiver from others?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:2 Don’t brag about yourself, but let others praise you. Don’t pat yourself on the back, but let strangers give you compliments.
King James
Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Why is anger such a weighty concern? What could make jealousy even worse?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:3–4 Boulders are heavy and sand weighs a lot, but a fool’s anger weighs heavier than both.
Rage is fierce and anger is overwhelming, but jealousy is even more ominous.
King James
Proverbs 27:3–4 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
How might open rebuke be love revealed?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
King James
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
How can wounds from a friend be better than an enemy’s kisses?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend are better than an enemy’s kisses.
King James
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
What can we do to stir our hunger for the Lord?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:7 With a full stomach, people don’t care for honey, but hunger makes even bitter food tasty.
King James
Proverbs 27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Under what conditions can we feel like we are “at home”?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:8 A man who wanders from home is like a bird that flees its nest.
King James
Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
What does a friends good advice have to do with lotions and perfumes?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:9 Lotions and perfumes smell wonderful, but a friend’s good advice is even better.
King James
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
What are the differences between friends and relatives?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:10 If you never forsake your friend or a friend of your father, you won’t have to go to a relative’s house when disaster strikes. A helpful neighbor close by is better than a faraway relative.
King James
Proverbs 27:10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Why are Christian parents sometimes criticized because of their wayward children?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:11 Act wisely, my child, and I will rejoice and will have good things to say to my critics.
King James
Proverbs 27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Why can’t some people see the consequence of wrongdoing?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:12 Prudent people see the consequence of wrongdoing and avoid it, but the naïve act without thinking and pay the price.
King James
Proverbs 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
How much risk should a person take in guaranteeing a loan?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:13 Don’t loan money to a stranger without assurance of payment, and for a foreigner be sure you are holding equal value in security.
King James
Proverbs 27:13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
To what extent are people intimidated by the exhortation: “Have a great day”? Why?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:14 A neighbor’s early-morning over-the-top blessing for a super-spectacular day can be an expectation that seems like a curse.
King James
Proverbs 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
What does a contentious spouse have in common with a leaking roof?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:15–16 A contentious spouse is like a like a roof leak continually dripping during a downpour, as impossible to control as stopping the wind or grabbing something with a greasy hand.
King James
Proverbs 27:15–16 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
How can iron sharpen iron? What does that say about the relationships we have with one another??
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:17 Like iron sharpening iron, a person can improve the character of a friend.
King James
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
What can employees do to gain praise from their superiors?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:18 As people who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat of its fruit, so are workers praised by their employers.
King James
Proverbs 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
How well do Christians reflect an image of who they really are? Why?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:19 As calm water reflects the image of your face, what you say and do reflects who you really are.
King James
Proverbs 27:19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
Under what circumstance should people be “satisfied”? Why?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:20 As death and destruction never stop, so are greedy eyes never satisfied.
King James
Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
What processes are necessary for people to be “refined”?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:21 As gold and silver are refined in the furnace, praising the Lord purifies the human heart.
King James
Proverbs 27:21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
For what reasons will people change their minds?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:22 Fools can be beaten like wheat that is crushed into flour with a mortar and pestle, but they still won’t change their minds.
King James
Proverbs 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
What must we do to really “know” people?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:23 Know your sheep and pay careful attention to your flock.
King James
Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
What treasures can endure forever?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:24 Earthly treasures have no eternal value, and one person’s honor can’t be passed to future generations.
King James
Proverbs 27:24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
What is gained by keeping sheep well-fed?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Proverbs 27:25–26 When the hay is harvested, new growth appears, and grasses have been gathered in the hill country, your lambs will provide clothing and your goats justify the cost of the field.
John 21:15–17 After they had eaten, Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than the others?”
“Yes, sir, you know I do.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”
“Yes, sir, you know I do.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time, Jesus said, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”
Peter was offended that his love had been questioned for a third time. “Sir, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
“Take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
King James
Proverbs 27:25–26 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
John 21:15–17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.