New Living Translation
Proverbs 27:9
9The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
Proverbs 27:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
- New International Version (NIV)Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
Context of Proverbs 27:9
7A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry. 8A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest. The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. 10Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. 11Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad. Then I will be able to answer my critics.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:9 word by word
שֶׁ֣מֶן וּ֭קְטֹרֶת יְשַׂמַּֽח־לֵ֑ב וּמֶ֥תֶק רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ מֵֽעֲצַת־נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Ointmentשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- and perfumeקְטֹ֫רֶתqeţôreth · incenseH7004
- rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
- the heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- the sweetnessמֶ֫תֶקmetheq · sweetnessH4986
- of a man’s friendרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- by heartyנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:9
- Proverbs 7:17I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
- Judges 9:9But the olive tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
- Psalms 45:7You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
- Psalms 104:15wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.
- Psalms 133:2For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.
- John 12:3Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
- Exodus 18:17“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed.
- 1 Samuel 23:16Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
- Ezra 10:2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.
- Acts 28:15The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Ointment and perfume - Anointing the head and various parts of the body with aromatic oil is frequent in the East, and fumigating the beards of the guests at the conclusion of an entertainment is almost universal; as is also sprinkling rose-water, and water highly ordoriferous. Two of the curious vessels which are used for this purpose are now before me; they hold some quarts each, and are beautifully inlaid with silver in the form of sprigs, leaves, etc.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-10Verses 9-10 Depend not for relief upon a kinsman, merely for kindred's sake; apply to those who are at hand, and will help in need. But there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and let us place entire confidence in him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Heartfelt advice from a close friend is very encouraging (see also Proverbs 27:6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. rejoice the heart--the organ of perceiving what pleases the senses. sweetness ... counsel--or, "wise counsel is also pleasing."Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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