PROV 27:9 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Lotions and perfumes make a person cheery,
⇔ → but it’s so pleasant to be given good advice by a friend.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Μύροις καὶ οἴνοις καὶ θυμιάμασι τέρπεται καρδία, καταῤῥήγνυται δὲ ὑπὸ συμπτωμάτων ψυχή.
(Murois kai oinois kai thumiamasi terpetai kardia, kataɽɽaʸgnutai de hupo sumptōmatōn psuⱪaʸ. )

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

ULT Oil and incense gladden the heart,
⇔ and the sweetness of his friend is from the counsel of the soul.

UST Fragrant oil and perfume make people feel happy,
⇔ but having a friend who advises you sincerely is even better.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

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

WMBB (Same as above)

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

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

FBV Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.[fn]

27:9 The Hebrew of the second phrase is unclear.

T4T ⇔ Putting olive oil and perfume on a person’s skin causes him to feel good,
⇔ but having a friend who gives good advice is even better.

LEB • Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice .[fn]

27:? Literally “because of advice of a person”

BBE Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise suggestion of a friend is sweet to the soul.

Moff Perfume and scent are a delight
⇔ sweet counsel is a strength.

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

ASV Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;
⇔ So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.

DRA Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.

YLT Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend — from counsel of the soul.

Drby Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is [the fruit] of hearty counsel.

RV Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.
(Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth/does the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh/comes of hearty counsel. )

SLT Oil and incense will rejoice the heart: and the sweetness from his friend from the counsel of the soul.

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

KJB-1769 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.[fn]
(Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth/does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. )

27.9 by…: Heb. from the counsel of the soul

KJB-1611 [fn]Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart: so doeth the sweetnesse of a mans friend by heartie counsell.
(Oyntment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth/does the sweetness of a mans friend by heartie council/counsel.)

27:9 Heb. from the counsell of the soule.

Bshps Baulme and sweete incense make the heart merie: so sweete is that frende that geueth counsell from the heart.
(Baulme and sweet incense make the heart merie: so sweet is that friend that giveth/gives council/counsel from the heart.)

Gnva As oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart, so doeth the sweetenes of a mans friend by hearty counsell.
(As ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth/does the sweetenes of a mans friend by hearty council/counsel. )

Cvdl The herte is glad of a swete oyntment and sauoure, but a stomacke that ca geue good councell, reioyseth a mans neghboure.
(The heart is glad of a sweet ointment and savour, but a stomach that can give good councell, rejoiceth/rejoices a mans neighbour.)

Wycl The herte delitith in oynement, and dyuerse odours; and a soule is maad swete bi the good counsels of a frend.
(The heart delitith in ointment, and diverse/various odours; and a soul is made sweet by the good counsels of a friend.)

Luth Das Herz freuet sich der Salbe und Räuchwerk; aber ein Freund ist lieblich um Rats willen der SeeLE.
(The heart is_happy itself/yourself/themselves the/of_the ointment and incense; but a friend is lovely/delightful around/by/for council will the/of_the soul.)

ClVg Unguento et variis odoribus delectatur cor, et bonis amici consiliis anima dulcoratur.]
(Unguento and various smellibus is_delighted heart, and good friends advices the_soul dulcoratur.] )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

Paragraph 27:9–10

Both of these verses are related by the theme of friendship. Verse 27:9 describes the value of a friend’s advice. Verse 27:10 describes a situation in which it is better to seek the advice of a neighbor than the advice of a relative who lives far away.

27:9

This proverb is another comparison that states the illustrations before the topic. The two parts of the comparison are joined with the word “and.” See the note on 26:1–28 for a list of other comparisons with the same form. The ESV has been used for 27:9a because it follows the recommended interpretation.

^9aOil and perfume make the heart glad, (ESV)

^9band the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

The proverb compares a friend’s “earnest counsel” to “oil and perfume.” The similarity is that both are beneficial. They cause joy and are considered to be pleasant.

27:9a

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,

¶ Oil/Lotion and perfume make a person glad.
¶ When you^(sing) rub fragrant lotion and perfume on your body, you feel happy.

(ESV) Oil: In Hebrew, this word refers to olive oil. Olive oil was used for many purposes. Here it probably refers to its use as a lotion for the hair and skin. This lotion was sometimes perfumed with fragrant spices to give it a sweet smell. Some other ways to translate this word are:

olive oil

fragrant lotion

(ESV) perfume: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the ESV translates as perfume:

It refers to perfume. People rubbed it on their skin to make themselves smell good. It was expensive, so most people used it only when they attended feasts or other happy occasions.Toy (p. 484), Garrett (p. 217). For example:
perfume (NASB) (ESV, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NJB, RSV, GNTThe NCV has “sweet smell of…oils” and GNT has “fragrant oils.” The Notes have interpreted their wording here to refer to perfume rather than incense, since oil was an ingredient of perfume. Both versions use the term “incense” in contexts that specify the altar of incense.)
It refers to incense, a substance that produces a sweet smell when it is burned. Elsewhere in the Old Testament it was used in connection with the altar of incense. It was also burned in special containers for burning incense in rituals connected with the tabernacle or temple. For example:
incense (GW) (BSB, GW, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most lexicons.In this verse, where it is used with the term “oil,” BDB (#7004) and TWOT (#2011a) identify it as perfume. HALOT (#8348) agrees that in this verse it is used in “a secular context.” People put both olive oil and perfume on their bodies at special occasions. Incense could only be used for religious rituals. Ordinary people were not allowed to use it as perfume. (See Exodus 30:34–38.)

(ESV) make the heart glad: Here the word heart is a figure of speech that represents the whole person. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

Keep the figure of speech. For example:
gladden the heart (NJB)
Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:
make you feel happier (GNT)
cause a person to be glad

27:9a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ The sincere advice of a friend is sweet/pleasant. It is like fragrant lotion and perfume. It causes you^(sing) to feel happy.

27:9b

and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

Similarly, the sincere advice of a friend makes a person feel happy.
And when a friend earnestly advises you^(sing), you experience the sweetness/goodness of his friendship.

and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul: There is a textual issue in this line:In addition to the textual issue discussed in the Notes, there is another minor issue: The MT has “his friend.” Some scholars have suggested that the text should say “a friend,” because there is no referent for “his.” Versions that follow this minor change include the ESV, GW, KJV, NIV, NJPS, and NLT. This change does not result in any significant meaning difference, so it has not been discussed in the Notes.

The Hebrew text has “and the sweetness of his friend from/than the counsel of a soul.” With this option, verse 27:9b compares positively with 27:9a. For example:
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel (ESV) (CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT)
The LXX has “but the soul is broken by calamities.” With this option, verse 27:9b contrasts negatively with 27:9a. For example:
but the soul is torn by trouble (NRSV) (NRSV, REB, GNT) It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars.

There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase “from/than the counsel of a soul”:

It means “from sincere/earnest counsel.” For example:
likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel (NET) (ESV, KJV, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT)The NCV and NLT have been listed under interpretation (1) because they all express the close relationship between a friend’s pleasantness and his sincere counsel. The NCV uses a more general term “good” rather than “earnest/sincere,” and the NLT combines/reorders the two lines.
It means “rather/better than a person’s own counsel.” For example:
and the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel (NJPS) (NJPS, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.See Waltke (p. 368, 378) for a detailed discussion of the textual and interpretation issues in this line. In addition to the two interpretations listed in the Notes, other interpretations include: (3) “so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend” (NASB); (4) “but true friendship is better still” (CEV); and (5) “but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest” (GW).

Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:

When a friend sincerely counsels a person, the pleasantness of his friendship can be seen.

In the same way, you^(sing) experience the sweet character of a friend when he gives you earnest advice.

General Comment on 27:9a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine/reorder these two lines. See 27:9a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שֶׁ֣מֶן וּ֭⁠קְטֹרֶת

perfume and,perfume

Oil and incense here refers to pleasant-smelling substances that are put on a person’s skin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Pleasant-smelling oils and perfumes”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יְשַׂמַּֽח־לֵ֑ב

make_~_glad heart

Here Solomon speaks of a person feeling glad as if that person’s heart were a person who could be gladdened. If it would be helpful in you language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “make a person happy”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וּ⁠מֶ֥תֶק

and,the_sweetness_of

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what follows to what he said in the previous clause. In the same way that Oil and incense gladden the heart, the sweetness of his friend is from the counsel of the soul. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and similarly, the sweetness of”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠מֶ֥תֶק

and,the_sweetness_of

Here Solomon speaks of the kindness of a friend as if it were sweetness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and the kindness of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

רֵ֝עֵ֗⁠הוּ

his/its=neighbour

Although his is masculine, here it refers to a person in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “any person’s friend”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

מֵֽ⁠עֲצַת־נָֽפֶשׁ

[is]_from_[the],counsel_of soul

The phrase counsel of the soul refers to sincere advice. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is from sincere counsel”