Proverbs 27:8–11

8 Like a bird that flees its nest

is anyone who flees from home.

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.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

10 Do not forsake your friend and 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 who is far away.

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

that I may answer him who reproaches me.

8 A person who strays from home

is like a bird that strays from its nest.

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.

8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest

Is a man who wanders from his place.

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.

8 A person who leaves his home

is like a bird that leaves its nest.

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.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest,

So is a man that wandereth from his place.

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.

8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

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.

8 Like a bird wandering from its nest, 

so is a husband wandering from his home. 

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. 

8 A man wandering from his home

is like a bird wandering from its nest.

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.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest

is one who strays from home.

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.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest,

so is a man who strays from his place.

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.

8 A man who wanders away from his home

is like a bird that wanders from its nest.

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.

8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man who wanders from his home.

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.