Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7 A sated man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7 A sated man loathes honey, but to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; and for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
It is God's will:
- that we are not contentious (27:15)
- that we do not bless people in order to show off (27:14)
- that we do not boast prematurely (27:1)
- that we do not boast about ourselves (27:2)
- that it is okay for someone else to praise you (27:2)
- that we are not offended by a rebuke (27:5)
- that we love a friend enough as to offer loving feedback when needed, and keep each other accountable (27:6, 9, 17)
- that we help a close friend when they are in trouble (27:10)
- that we are prudent and avoid evil (27:12)
- that we are wise and behave wisely (27:11)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being my perfect BEST Friend and Savior. Help me to find and make godly friends who will have my best interest at heart; humble friends who will let me know when I am wrong in a gracious and loving way. May I be that kind of friend to others.
And when You bring friends into my life who are unbelievers, help me always behave in such a way that they will see the good news lived out. Help them to feel convicted, and wanting to know more about You. And give me wisdom to know when to put distance between myself and them, if there should ever be that need. Give me prudence to recognize evil intentions, while still maintaining Your love for others. Amen.
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