Proverbs 27:5–12

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

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.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

7 One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

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.

12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb;

But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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:

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.

5 An open rebuke

is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend

are better than many kisses from an enemy.

7 A person who is full refuses honey,

but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

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.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

5 It is better to correct someone openly

than to have love and not show it.

6 The slap of a friend can be trusted to help you,

but the kisses of an enemy are nothing but lies.

7 When you are full, not even honey tastes good,

but when you are hungry, even something bitter tastes sweet.

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.

12 The wise see danger ahead and avoid it,

but fools keep going and get into trouble.

5 Better is open rebuke

Than love that is hidden.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

7 The full soul loatheth a honeycomb;

But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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.

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

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

7 The full soul trampleth on a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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.

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

5 Open criticism is better than unexpressed love. 

6 Wounds made by a friend are intended to help, 

but an enemy’s kisses are too much to bear. 

7 One who is full despises honey, 

but to one who is hungry, 

even bitter food tastes sweet. 

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. 

12 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide. 

Gullible people go ahead ⸤and⸥ suffer. 

5 Better an open reprimand

than concealed love.

6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,

but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

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.

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,

but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

7 The sated appetite spurns honey,

but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.

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.

12 The clever see danger and hide,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

5 Better a rebuke that is open

than a love that is hidden.

6 The wounds of a friend mean well,

but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

7 An appetite that is sated spurns honey,

but to an appetite that is ravenous, all bitterness is sweet.

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.

12 When the clever sees danger, he hides;

the simple go on and suffer.

5 Being warned openly is better

than being loved in secret.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted.

But an enemy kisses you many times.

7 When you are full, you even hate honey.

When you are hungry, even what is bitter tastes sweet.

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.

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

But childish people keep on going and suffer for it.

5 Better is open rebuke

Than love that is concealed.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

7 A sated man loathes honey,

But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

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.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The naive proceed and pay the penalty.