Moff PROV Chapter 27

27 

Never boast about to-morrow;

you never know what a day may bring.

2 

Let others praise you, not yourself:

not your own lips, but someone else.

3 

A stone is heavy, sand is weighty;

but a vexatious fool is worse to bear than both.

4 

Wrath is fierce, anger is like a flood,

but who can stand against jealousy?

5 

Better a frank word of reproo

than the love that will not speak.

6 

Wounds from a friend are honest,

but an enemy’s kisses are false.

7 

The man who is full disdains a honeycomb,

but any bitter thing is sweet to the hungry.

8 

Like a bird that wanders from her nest,

so is a man who wanders far from home.

9 

Perfume and scent are a delight

sweet counsel is a strength.

10 

Drop not a friend who was your father’s friend,

go to his house when you are in trouble;

for a neighbour near is better than a brother far away.

11 

Delight my heart by being wise, my son,

that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

12 

A cautious man sees danger and takes cover:

a simpleton strolls on--and pays for it.

13 

He has gone bail for a man?--seize him!

hold him to what he has pledged!

14 

Loud blessing lavished by one man on another

is counted to mean cursing.

15 

An endless dripping on a rainy day

and a nagging wife are just the same.

16 

The north wind is a harsh wind,

but it has an auspicious name.

17 

As iron whets iron,

so one man whets another.

18 

He who tends a fig-tree gets the figs;

he who attends to his master shall be honoured.

19 

As one face is like another,

so is one mind like another.

20 

Death and the grave are never satisfied;

neither are man’s desires.

21 

The smelter for silver, the furnace for gold,

but man is tested by his praise.

22 

Crush a fool with a pestle in the mortar,

but you will never crush the folly out of him.

23 

Look well to the state of your flocks,

and be careful of your herds;

24 

for riches do not last for ever,

nor wealth from age to age.

25 

When haytime is over and the aftermath mowed

and the grass gathered in from the hills,

26 

your sheep will furnish you with clothing then,

your goats will yield you the price of a field,

27 

with ample milk to feed you,

and to maintain your maids.