Chapter 27
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10Thine 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.
11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Overview
This chapter addresses the themes of honest friendship, the refining power of adversity, and the importance of diligent stewardship. Solomon teaches that faithful wounds from a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy, that iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another, and that the prudent man foresees danger and hides himself. The chapter closes with instructions to care diligently for one's flocks, for riches do not endure forever.
Key Themes
Faithful Wounds of a Friend
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful — honest rebuke from someone who loves you is far more valuable than flattery from someone who does not.
Iron Sharpens Iron
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend — genuine relationships involve friction that produces growth and sharper character.
Diligent Stewardship
Be diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds, for riches are not forever — faithful attention to what God entrusts to us is the path to lasting provision.
Study Questions
Why are 'faithful wounds of a friend' better than 'the kisses of an enemy' (v. 6)? How can we cultivate friendships honest enough for this kind of love?
What does 'iron sharpeneth iron' (v. 17) look like practically? What kind of relationships produce genuine sharpening?
How does verse 1 — 'boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth' — guard against presumption?
What does the instruction to know the state of your flocks (vv. 23-27) teach about attentiveness in any area of responsibility?
Why does Solomon say 'ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel' (v. 9)?
Connection to Christ
Jesus is the friend whose wounds are faithful — He was wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed. He is the friend who sharpens, rebukes, and refines those He loves. He is also the Good Shepherd who knows the state of every one of His flock by name and tends them with diligent, unfailing care.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Proverbs 27. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?