Proverbs 27:9

The heart delighteth in ointment, and diverse odours; and a soul is made sweet by the good counsels of a friend.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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

In Context

8As a bird passing over from his nest, so is a man that forsaketh his place. (Like a bird passing over its own nest, is a man who is far from his own home.)

10Forsake thou not thy friend, and the friend of thy father; and enter thou not into the house of thy brother, in the day of thy torment. Better is a neighbour nigh, than a brother afar. (Desert thou not thy friend, or thy father’s friend; and enter thou not into the house of thy brother, on the day of thy torment. For a friend close-by is better, than thy own brother far away.)

Read all of Proverbs 27

Cross References

Judges 9:9Which answered, Whether I may forsake my fatness, which both Gods and men use, and come, that I be advanced among trees? (Which answered, Can I forsake my rich oil, which is used to honour both gods and men, and go that I be advanced over the other trees?)

1 Kings 1:12Now therefore come thou, take thou counsel of me, and save thy life, and (the life) of Solomon, thy son.

Psalms 23:5Thou hast made ready a board in my sight; against them that trouble me. Thou hast made fat mine head with oil; and my cup, that filleth greatly, is full clear. (Thou hast prepared a table before me; before those who trouble me. Thou hast covered my head with oil; and my cup, which thou greatly filleth, is full, indeed it runneth over.)

Psalms 104:15and that wine make glad the heart of men. That he make glad the face with oil; and that bread make steadfast the heart of man. (and wine to make the hearts of people glad. And oil to make their faces shine; and bread to make their hearts strong.)

Proverbs 7:17I have besprinkled my bed with myrrh, and aloes, and canel (or and cinnamon).

Proverbs 16:21He that is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he that is sweet in speech, shall find greater things. (He who is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he who useth sweet, or pleasant, speech, shall increase his knowledge or shall help others to learn.)

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 27:9

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. Note, 1. There are many that do not know when they are well off, but are uneasy with their present condition, and given to change. God, in his providence, has appointed them a place fit for them and has made it comfortable to them; but they affect unsettledness; they love to wander; they are glad of a pretence to go abroad, and do not care for staying long at a place; they needlessly absent themselves from their own work and care,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 27:9