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Proverbs 27:5-12
King James Version
Proverbs 27:5-12
King James Version
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.
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Proverbs 27:5-12
New International Version
Proverbs 27:5-12
New International Version
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.(A)
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(B)
is anyone who flees from home.
9 Perfume(C) 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(D) strikes you—
better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(E)
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(F)
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(G)
Proverbs 27:5-12
English Standard Version
Proverbs 27:5-12
English Standard Version
5 (A)Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Faithful are (B)the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
7 One who is full loathes (C)honey,
but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
8 Like (D)a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
9 (E)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.[a]
10 Do not forsake your friend and (F)your father's friend,
and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
(G)Better is a neighbor who is near
than a brother who is far away.
11 (H)Be wise, (I)my son, and (J)make my heart glad,
that I may (K)answer him who reproaches me.
12 (L)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but (M)the simple go on and suffer for it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:9 Or and so does the sweetness of a friend that comes from his earnest counsel
Proverbs 27:5-12
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 27:5-12
Christian Standard Bible
5 Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.(A)
7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,(D)
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Anyone wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.(E)
9 Oil(F) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.[a]
10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,(G)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.(H)
12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.(K)
Footnotes
- 27:9 LXX reads heart, but the soul is torn up by affliction
Proverbs 27:5-12
New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 27:5-12
New American Standard Bible 1995
5 Better is (A)open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
6 Faithful are the (B)wounds of a friend,
But [a]deceitful are the (C)kisses of an enemy.
7 A sated [b]man [c]loathes honey,
But to a famished [d]man any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a (D)bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who (E)wanders from his [e]home.
9 (F)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a [f]man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not forsake your own (G)friend or (H)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 (I)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may (J)reply to him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The [g]naive proceed and pay the penalty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:6 Or excessive
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit tramples on
- Proverbs 27:7 Lit soul
- Proverbs 27:8 Lit place
- Proverbs 27:9 Lit soul’s
- Proverbs 27:12 Lit simple
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.