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Proverbs 27 · a question people ask

"Don’t boast about tomorrow" (27:1). Does that mean you shouldn't make plans?

In the text

The verse speaks of boasting: its verb is halal in the form Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "glory, boast" (tap praise). And it gives its reason: "for you don’t know what a day may bring" (27:1). The same chapter also says, "A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge" (27:12), and its closing verses say, "Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds" (27:23), "for riches are not forever" (27:24). Elsewhere the book says, "A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). So the book holds planning and the limits of what anyone knows side by side. These notes don't turn 27:1 into a rule against planning, or 27:23-24 into advice about anyone's work or money today.

The verses

“Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.”
Proverbs 27:1 · World English Bible
“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.”
Proverbs 27:12 · World English Bible
“Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds, for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.”
Proverbs 27:23-24 · World English Bible
“A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27: Iron sharpens iron

"Don’t boast" (27:1) and "Let another man praise you" (27:2) share one Hebrew verb, halal. And in "The wounds of a friend are faithful" (27:6), friend is a form of the verb love, while the enemy whose kisses are profuse is named with the verb hate.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions