Proverbs 27:1 kjv
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1 nkjv
Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1 niv
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1 esv
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1 nlt
Don't brag about tomorrow,
since you don't know what the day will bring.
Proverbs 27 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jas 4:13-16 | "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city... whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow...' " | Directly condemns arrogant planning, highlighting the brevity and uncertainty of life. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' ... But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you...' " | The Parable of the Rich Fool, illustrating the suddenness of death and the folly of self-centered future plans. |
| Matt 6:34 | "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." | A call to live in the present, entrusting the future to God's care and rejecting worry about unknowns. |
| Prov 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." | Human planning is subordinate to divine orchestration and sovereignty. |
| Prov 19:21 | "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." | Reinforces God's ultimate control over human intentions and outcomes. |
| Job 8:9 | "For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow." | Emphasizes human limited knowledge and fleeting existence. |
| Ps 39:4-5 | "O Lord, make me know my end... Surely every man at his best is but a breath!" | A prayer for understanding human transience and reliance on God. |
| Ps 90:12 | "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." | Wisdom involves acknowledging the finite nature of life and living purposefully for God. |
| Isa 56:12 | "Come,' they say, 'let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like today, great beyond measure.' " | Criticizes self-indulgent assumptions of future prosperity without God. |
| Ecc 9:11-12 | "I saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift... for time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time." | Highlights the unpredictable nature of life and human ignorance of one's future. |
| 1 Thes 5:1-3 | "For you yourselves know that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them..." | The suddenness of God's judgment and the foolishness of unprepared boasting. |
| Ps 144:4 | "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." | Reaffirms human frailty and the brevity of life, underscoring the lack of future certainty. |
| 1 Cor 4:6-7 | "...that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up... For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive?" | Warns against boasting or self-exaltation, reminding believers all good things come from God. |
| Phil 3:3 | "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." | Contrast of boasting in self (flesh) versus boasting in Christ, applicable to future assurance. |
| Prov 20:24 | "A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" | Further emphasizes divine guidance over human understanding and control. |
| Jer 10:23 | "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." | Direct acknowledgment of human inability to independently plan or guide one's life. |
| Rom 1:28-30 | Those "who were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice... boastful." | Links boasting with other forms of sin that arise from an ungodly heart. |
| Heb 13:8 | "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." | A theological contrast: while human life is uncertain, God's character and promises are unwavering. |
| Deut 8:17-18 | "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth..." | Warning against self-reliance and boasting about material success or future provision. |
| 1 John 2:16 | "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." | Connects "pride of life" (which includes boasting about future achievements) to worldly desires, opposing God's nature. |
Proverbs 27 verses
Proverbs 27 1 Meaning
Proverbs 27:1 advises against boasting or making confident predictions about what the future will hold, specifically the next day. The core message is a cautionary principle rooted in humility and the acknowledgment of human finitude. It emphasizes that since humans do not know what events a new day may "bring forth" or reveal, it is foolish and prideful to make assumptions or guarantees about tomorrow. This counsel promotes a present-focused humility and dependence on God's sovereignty over the unpredictable course of life.
Proverbs 27 1 Context
Proverbs 27:1 belongs to the collection of "the proverbs of Solomon that the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied" (Prov 25:1), suggesting an organized compilation of wise sayings intended for instruction and ethical formation. This particular verse fits within a larger theme in Proverbs and broader wisdom literature that consistently emphasizes human dependence on God and the dangers of self-reliance, pride, and folly. The preceding chapters discuss various aspects of wisdom in daily life, human interactions, and character development. Proverbs often contrasts the wise with the foolish, and this verse aligns with the understanding that boasting about an uncertain future is a mark of foolishness, contrasting with the prudent and humble recognition of God's sovereign control over time and events. Historically, in ancient Israel, reliance on divine providence was a cornerstone of faith, counteracting pagan tendencies to predict the future through omens or human agency.
Proverbs 27 1 Word analysis
Do not boast (אַל-תִּתְהַלֵּל, al-tithallel):
- Al is a negation, "do not."
- Tithallel is from the root הָלַל (halal), which means "to praise," "to shine," or, in its Hithpael (reflexive-intensive) stem, "to boast," "to praise oneself," "to exult." It implies a self-centered declaration or exaltation, often with an element of pride or arrogance. It goes beyond simple planning and points to a presumptuous self-assurance.
- Significance: This word choice specifically targets prideful, self-aggrandizing declarations about one's future accomplishments or certainty, rather than just merely making plans. It's a warning against arrogance.
about tomorrow (לָיוֹם מָחָר, layom machar):
- Layom means "for the day" or "concerning the day."
- Machar means "tomorrow" or "the day after."
- Significance: This phrase is very specific. It focuses on the immediate, uncertain future, making the wisdom applicable to daily life. It implies that even short-term predictions, when made with boasting, are misguided.
for you do not know (כִּי לֹא־תֵדַע, ki lo-teda):
- Ki means "for" or "because," introducing the reason for the command.
- Lo is a negation, "not."
- Teda is from the root יָדַע (yada), "to know," in the imperfect tense, meaning "you will know" or "you know."
- Significance: This phrase highlights the fundamental limitation of human knowledge. It underscores human ignorance about future events, providing the rational basis for the prohibition against boasting. It points to God's exclusive knowledge of the future.
what a day may bring forth (מַה־יֵּלֶד יוֹם, mah yeled yom):
- Mah means "what."
- Yeled is from the root יָלַד (yalad), "to bear," "to give birth to," "to bring forth." This is poetic and evocative language, picturing a day as birthing unknown events or circumstances.
- Yom means "day."
- Significance: This imagery portrays the future as pregnant with hidden possibilities—both good and ill—that can unexpectedly materialize. It vividly conveys the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of future events from a human perspective, emphasizing that one cannot foretell the outcomes of a day.
Words-Group Analysis:
- Do not boast about tomorrow: This opening command sets a tone of caution against presumption. It's not about prohibiting planning but against prideful declaration of plans or certainty regarding what is ultimately beyond human control. It contrasts human ambition with divine sovereignty.
- for you do not know what a day may bring forth: This provides the theological and existential grounding for the command. It grounds the advice in the reality of human limitation and the unpredictable nature of time, which is under God's governance. The metaphorical "birth" of the day’s events underscores the futility of human presumption in the face of divine providence.
Proverbs 27 1 Bonus section
The wisdom in Proverbs 27:1 extends beyond mere planning to encompass a fundamental spiritual attitude. It calls believers to cultivate a heart of humility and radical trust in God's sovereignty. In a world that often promotes self-reliance and the illusion of human control, this proverb serves as a powerful counter-cultural statement, redirecting our focus from "what I will do" to "what the Lord will do" or "what He permits." This perspective fosters peace and reduces anxiety about the future, knowing that ultimately, all time and circumstances are in the hands of the Creator. It encourages living a life of faithful stewardship in the present, while leaving the outcome and the timing to divine providence. This understanding prepares us not just for successes, but also for unforeseen hardships, knowing our confidence is not in our own strength or plans, but in God who is unchanging.
Proverbs 27 1 Commentary
Proverbs 27:1 stands as a timeless admonition for humility and wisdom regarding the future. It’s a direct warning against the folly of human presumption, urging individuals to avoid boastful or overly confident pronouncements about their future plans or achievements, particularly even as soon as the very next day. This wisdom teaching does not prohibit making plans or working diligently, but rather warns against an arrogant spirit that assumes complete control or assured outcomes. Such boasting stems from a misguided view of one's own capabilities and an ignorance of life's inherent uncertainties.
The imagery of "what a day may bring forth" poetically emphasizes the unforeseen nature of future events. A day can "give birth" to unexpected blessings, challenges, or even an end to life itself, as illustrated in the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:16-21). True wisdom acknowledges this uncertainty and aligns with a mindset of dependence on God, who alone holds the future (Prov 16:9; Jas 4:13-16). This humility liberates believers from the burden of anxious prediction and enables them to live faithfully in the present moment, trusting God for their days.
- Practical Usage Examples:
- Someone stating, "By next year, I will definitely have achieved X goal," without accounting for potential unforeseen circumstances.
- A person boasting, "Tomorrow, I'm going to seal this big deal, nothing can stop me," disregarding the variables beyond their control.
- Scheduling every hour of the next day with rigid confidence, not leaving room for unexpected interruptions or changes.