Proverbs 27:9
New International Version
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

New Living Translation
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

English Standard Version
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Berean Standard Bible
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

King James Bible
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

New King James Version
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

New American Standard Bible
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.

NASB 1995
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

NASB 1977
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

Legacy Standard Bible
Oil and incense make the heart glad, So counsel from the soul is sweet to his friend.

Amplified Bible
Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

Christian Standard Bible
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

American Standard Version
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend that cometh of hearty counsel.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
As oil and fragrances give joy to the heart, so is he that is sweet to his neighbor in the counsel of his soul.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.

Contemporary English Version
The sweet smell of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.

English Revised Version
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend that cometh of hearty counsel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.

Good News Translation
Perfume and fragrant oils make you feel happier, but trouble shatters your peace of mind.

International Standard Version
Ointments and perfume encourage the heart; in a similar way, a friend's advice is sweet to the soul.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Literal Standard Version
Perfume and incense make the heart glad, | And the sweetness of one’s friend—from counsel of the soul.

Majority Standard Bible
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

New American Bible
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, but by grief the soul is torn asunder.

NET Bible
Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one's friend from sincere counsel.

New Revised Standard Version
Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the soul is torn by trouble.

New Heart English Bible
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man's friend.

Webster's Bible Translation
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

World English Bible
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

Young's Literal Translation
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend -- from counsel of the soul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Boast about Tomorrow
8Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home. 9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul. 10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.…

Cross References
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.


Treasury of Scripture

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

ointment

Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Judges 9:9
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Psalm 45:7,8
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows…

Exodus 18:17-24
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good…

1 Samuel 23:16,17
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God…

Exodus 18:17-24
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good…

Jump to Previous
Counsel Earnest Friend Fruit Glad Heart Hearty Incense Joy Oil Ointment One's Perfume Pleasantness Rejoice Soul Springs Suggestion Sweet Sweetness Torn Trouble Wise
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Counsel Earnest Friend Fruit Glad Heart Hearty Incense Joy Oil Ointment One's Perfume Pleasantness Rejoice Soul Springs Suggestion Sweet Sweetness Torn Trouble Wise
Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














(9) Ointment and perfume.--Comp. Proverbs 7:17 and note on Proverbs 21:17.

Verse 9. - Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart. (For the use of unguents in the honourable treatment of guests, see Proverbs 7:16, etc.; Proverbs 21:17.) Similarly, perfumes prepared from spices, roses, and aromatic plants were employed; rooms were fumigated, persons were sprinkled with rose water, and incense was applied to the face and beard, as we read (Daniel 2:46) that Nebuchadnezzar ordered that to Daniel, in recognition of his wisdom, should be offered an oblation and sweet odours (see 'Dick of Bible,' and Kitto, 'Cyclop.,' voc. "Perfumes"). The heat of the climate, the insalubrious character of the houses, the profuse perspiration of the assembled guests, rendered this attention peculiarly acceptable (comp. Song of Solomon 3:6). The LXX., probably with a tacit reference to Psalm 104:15, renders, "The heart delighteth in ointments, and wines, and perfumes." So doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. This is rather clumsy; the Revised Version improves it by paraphrasing, that cometh from hearty counsel. The meaning is that as ointment, etc., gladden the heart, so do the sweet and loving words of one who speaks from the depths of his soul. The idea is primarily of a friend who gives wise counsel, speaking the truth in love, or shows his approval by discreet commendation. The LXX. has pointed differently, and translates, "But the soul is broken by calamities (καταῥῤήγνυται ὑπὸ (συμπτωμάτων);" Vulgate, "The soul is sweetened by the good counsels of a friend."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Oil
שֶׁ֣מֶן (še·men)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

and incense
וּ֭קְטֹרֶת (ū·qə·ṭō·reṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7004: Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense

bring joy
יְשַׂמַּֽח־ (yə·śam·maḥ-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

to the heart,
לֵ֑ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and the sweetness
וּמֶ֥תֶק (ū·me·ṯeq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4986: Pleasantness

of a friend
רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

[is] counsel
מֵֽעֲצַת־ (mê·‘ă·ṣaṯ-)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

to the soul.
נָֽפֶשׁ׃ (nā·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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