Proverbs 27:9-25

⁹Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.

¹⁰Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.

¹¹Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.

¹²The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

¹³Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.

¹⁴When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.

¹⁵A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

¹⁶He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as fragrant oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.

¹⁷Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.

¹⁸Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.

¹⁹As the water showeth to the face the reflected face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.

²⁰The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied.

²¹As the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man proved according to his praise.

²²Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.

²³Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;

²⁴For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.

²⁵When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.