Proverbs 27:9–14

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:

So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not;

Neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity:

For better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,

And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend

is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never 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.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad.

Then I will be able to answer my critics.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.

Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning

will be taken as a curse!

9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart,

And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,

Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;

The simple pass on and are punished.

13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,

And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It will be counted a curse to him.

9 The sweet smell of perfume and oils is pleasant,

and so is good advice from a friend.

10 Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend.

Don’t always go to your family for help when trouble comes.

A neighbor close by is better than a family far away.

11 Be wise, my child, and make me happy.

Then I can respond to any insult.

12 The wise see danger ahead and avoid it,

but fools keep going and get into trouble.

13 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s loan,

and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes.

14 If you loudly greet your neighbor early in the morning,

he will think of it as a curse.

9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;

So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.

10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not;

And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity:

Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one’s friend is the fruit of hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; the simple pass on, and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.

9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad, 

but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.

10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend. 

Do not go to a relative’s home when you are in trouble. 

A neighbor living nearby is better than a relative far away. 

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad 

so that I can answer anyone who criticizes me. 

12 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. 

Gullible people go ahead ⸤and⸥ suffer. 

13 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan, 

and hold responsible the person 

who makes a loan in behalf of a foreigner. 

14 Whoever blesses his friend early in the morning with a loud voice— 

his blessing is considered a curse. 

9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,

and don’t go to your brother’s house

in your time of calamity;

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,

so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

13 Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners.

14 If one blesses his neighbor

with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad,

but the soul is torn by trouble.

10 Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent;

do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is nearby

than kindred who are far away.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,

so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.

12 The clever see danger and hide,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;

seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

14 Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

9 Perfume and incense will gladden a heart,

and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice.

10 As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them,

and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity.

Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,

and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

12 When the clever sees danger, he hides;

the simple go on and suffer.

13 Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger,

and to an adulteress—so take his pledge.

14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice

early in the morning,

a curse will be reckoned to him.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to your heart.

And a friend is sweeter when he gives you honest advice.

10 Don’t desert your friend or your father’s friend.

And don’t go to your family when trouble strikes you.

A neighbor nearby is better than a family member far away.

11 My child, be wise and bring joy to my heart.

Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me.

12 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.

But childish people keep on going and suffer for it.

13 Take the coat of one who puts up money for what a stranger owes.

Hold it until you get paid back if he does it for a woman who commits adultery.

14 Suppose you loudly bless your neighbor early in the morning.

Then you might as well be calling down a curse on him.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,

And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be reckoned a curse to him.