Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Do not boast
The Hebrew word for "boast" is "halal," which can mean to shine, praise, or boast. In this context, it carries a negative connotation of self-glorification or presumption. The Bible consistently warns against pride and self-reliance, emphasizing humility and dependence on God. Boasting about the future reflects a heart that trusts in its own plans rather than in God's sovereignty. This admonition serves as a reminder to maintain a humble spirit, recognizing that all we have and hope for is ultimately in God's hands.

about tomorrow
The concept of "tomorrow" in this verse represents the future, which is inherently uncertain and beyond human control. In the ancient Near Eastern context, life was fraught with unpredictability due to factors like weather, health, and political stability. The Bible often contrasts the fleeting nature of human life with the eternal nature of God. James 4:13-15 echoes this sentiment, advising believers to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." This phrase encourages a mindset of submission to God's will, acknowledging that only He knows what the future holds.

for you do not know
This phrase underscores human limitations in knowledge and understanding. The Hebrew word "yada" means to know, perceive, or understand. It is a reminder of the finite nature of human wisdom compared to God's omniscience. Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as the one who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). This acknowledgment of our limited knowledge should lead to a posture of trust and reliance on God's perfect wisdom and timing.

what a day may bring
The phrase "what a day may bring" highlights the unpredictability of daily life. Each day can bring unexpected challenges or blessings, and this uncertainty calls for a reliance on God's providence. In the historical context of Proverbs, life was often precarious, with each day presenting new and unforeseen circumstances. This reality is a call to live with an awareness of our dependence on God, seeking His guidance and strength for whatever each day may hold. The verse encourages believers to live in the present, trusting God for the future, and to cultivate a heart of gratitude and faithfulness in the here and now.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His teachings often focus on practical living and moral conduct.

2. Israel
The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is rooted in ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key component of spiritual and ethical instruction.

3. The Future
The concept of the future is central to this verse, emphasizing the uncertainty and unpredictability of what is to come.
Teaching Points
Humility in Planning
Recognize that while planning is wise, boasting about future plans reflects a lack of humility and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Dependence on God
Trust in God's providence and control over the future, rather than relying solely on human understanding and effort.

Living in the Present
Focus on the opportunities and responsibilities of today, rather than being consumed by what may or may not happen tomorrow.

Wisdom in Speech
Be cautious with your words, especially when speaking about the future, to avoid prideful assumptions.

Faith and Trust
Cultivate a heart of faith that trusts God with the unknowns of tomorrow, resting in His perfect plan and timing.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the original Hebrew word for "boast" (halal) deepen our comprehension of this verse's warning against prideful speech about the future?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of Proverbs 27:1 to our daily decision-making and planning?

3. How does the teaching in James 4:13-15 complement the message of Proverbs 27:1, and what practical steps can we take to align our lives with this wisdom?

4. Reflect on a time when you made plans that did not come to fruition. How did this experience shape your understanding of God's sovereignty and your approach to future planning?

5. How can we balance the biblical call to be wise stewards of our resources and time with the admonition not to boast about tomorrow?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 4:13-15
This passage echoes the sentiment of Proverbs 27:1 by advising believers not to presume upon the future but to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Matthew 6:34
Jesus teaches not to worry about tomorrow, as each day has enough trouble of its own, reinforcing the idea of focusing on the present.

Ecclesiastes 9:12
This verse highlights the unpredictability of life, similar to the message in Proverbs 27:1, reminding us that no one knows their time.
BoastingH. Binning.Proverbs 27:1
Cheer for DespondencyC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 27:1
Ignorance of the FutureCharles Hyatt.Proverbs 27:1
Ignorance of the FutureProverbs 27:1
Man in Presence of the Future: Our Greatness and Our LittlenessW. Clarkson Proverbs 27:1
Man's Ignorance of FuturityR. Cameron.Proverbs 27:1
On the Conduct to be Held with Regard to Future EventsHugh Blair, D.D.Proverbs 27:1
The Danger of Trusting to the FutureW. Burns.Proverbs 27:1
The Folly and Danger of Boasting of the MorrowR. Parkinson, B.D.Proverbs 27:1
The Folly and Danger of Delays in ReligionChristian Recorder.Proverbs 27:1
The Necessity of a Present RepentanceWilliam Bramston.Proverbs 27:1
To-MorrowW. H. Hay Aitken, M.A.Proverbs 27:1
To-MorrowProverbs 27:1
To-MorrowC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 27:1
To-MorrowCharles Haddon Spurgeon Proverbs 27:1
Beastliness, Jealousy, and HypocrisyE. Johnson Proverbs 27:1-6
People
Abaddon, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Boast, Bring, Bringeth, Day's, Forth, Morrow, Noise, Outcome, Thyself, Tomorrow, To-morrow
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 27:1

     4903   time
     5575   talk, idle
     6121   boasting
     6182   ignorance, human situation
     8803   pride, evil of
     9130   future, the

Library
To-Morrow
A sermon (No. 94) delivered on Sabbath morning, August 25, 1856, by C. H. Spurgeon at Maberley Chapel, Kingsland, on behalf of the Metropolitan Benefit Societies' Asylum, Ball's Pond Road, Islington. "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."--Proverbs 27:1. God's most holy Word was principally written to inform us of the way to heaven, and to guide us in our path through this world to the realms of eternal life and light. But as if to teach us that God is
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Cheer for Despondency
A sermon (No. 3183) published on Thursday, February 3, 1910, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."--Proverbs 27:1. What a great mercy it is that we do not know "what a day may bring forth"! We are often thankful for knowledge, but in this case we may be particularly grateful for ignorance. It is the glory of God, we are told, to conceal a thing, and it most certainly is for the happiness of mankind that he should conceal
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Best Friend
A Sermon (No. 2627) intended for reading on Lord's Day, June 18th, 1899, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. on Thursday evening, February 23rd, 1882. "Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not."--Proverbs 27:10. True friends are very scarce. We have a great many acquaintances and sometimes we call them friends, and so misuse the noble word "friendship." Peradventure in some after-day of adversity when these so-called friends have looked out for their
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Honored Servant
A Sermon (No. 2643) Intended for Reading on Lord's Day, October 8th 1899, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Thursday Evening, June 22nd, 1882. "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored."--Proverbs 27:18. In Solomon's day every man sat under his own vine and fig tree, and there was peace throughout the whole country. Then, God's law about dividing out the land among the people so that every man
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Way to Honor
A Sermon (No. 1118) delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored."--Proverbs 27:18. If a man in Palestine carefully watched his fig tree and kept it in proper condition, he was sure to be abundantly rewarded in due season, for it would yield him a large quantity of fruit of which he would enjoy the luscious taste. So according to Solomon, good servants obtained honor
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

Spiritual Appetite
A Sermon (No. 1227) delivered on Lord's Day Morning by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."--Proverbs 27:7. It is a great blessing when food and appetite meet together. Some have appetite and no meat, they need our pity; others have meat but no appetite, they may not perhaps win our pity but they certainly require it. We have heard of a gentleman who was accustomed to
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Wandering Bird
A Sermon (No. 3453) published on Thursday, April 8th, 1915, delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place."--Proverbs 27:8. Solomon spoke from observation. He had seen certain persons of a vagrant kind, and he perceived that they seldom or never prospered. Moreover, he spoke from inspiration as well as from observation, hence the sagacity of the philosopher is in this case supported by the austerity
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

To-Morrow
GOD'S MOST holy Word was principally written to inform us of the way to heaven, and to guide us in our path through this world, to the realms of eternal life and light. But as if to teach us that God is not careless concerning our doings in the present scene, and that our benevolent Father is not inattentive to our happiness even in this state, he has furnished us with some excellent and wise maxims, which we may put in practice, not only in spiritual matters, but in temporal affairs also. I have
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Epistle xxvii. To Anastasius, Bishop.
To Anastasius, Bishop. Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. I have received through the hands of our common son the deacon Sabinianus the longed for letter of your most sweet Holiness, in which the words have flowed not from your tongue but from your soul. And it is not surprising that one speaks well who lives perfectly. And, since you have learnt, through the Spirit teaching you in the school of the heart, the precepts of life--to despise all earthly things and to speed to the heavenly country,--in
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Second Sunday Before Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 11, 19-33; 12, 1-9. 19 For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise yourselves. 20 For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you captive, if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face. 21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Of Suffering which must be Accepted as from God --Its Fruits.
Be content with all the suffering that God may lay upon you. If you will love Him purely, you will be as willing to follow Him to Calvary as to Tabor. He must be loved as much on Calvary as on Tabor, since it is there that He makes the greatest manifestation of His love. Do not act, then, like those people who give themselves at one time, and take themselves back at another. They give themselves to be caressed, and take themselves back when they are crucified; or else they seek for consolation in
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Call of Matthew.
(at or Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IX. 9; ^B Mark II. 13, 14; ^C Luke V. 27, 28. ^c 27 And after these thingsa [after the healing of the paralytic] he went forth, ^a again by the seaside [i. e., he left Capernaum, and sought the shore of the sea, which formed a convenient auditorium for him, and which was hence a favorite scene for his teaching]; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 And as he ^a Jesus passed by from thence, he saw ^c and beheld ^a a man, ^c a publican, named
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Here is high preferment for the saints. They shall be advanced to a kingdom. There are some who, aspiring after earthly greatness, talk of a temporal reign here, but then God's church on earth would not be militant but triumphant. But sure it is the saints shall reign in a glorious manner: Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' A kingdom is held the acme and top of all worldly felicity, and this honour have all the saints'; so says our Saviour, Theirs is the
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man
THERE are not a few difficulties in the account, which Moses has given of the creation of the world, and of the formation, and temptation, and fall of our first parents. Some by the six days of the creation have understood as many years. Whilst others have thought the creation of the world instantaneous: and that the number of days mentioned by Moses is only intended to assist our conception, who are best able to think of things in order of succession. No one part of this account is fuller of difficulties,
Nathaniel Lardner—An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man

Second Sunday after Easter
Text: First Peter 2, 20-25. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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