Proverbs 27:9

“Oil and incense make glad the heart, and the sweetness of one’s friend is more than the counsel of the soul.”

Proverbs 27:9 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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A friend's sweetness gladdens; don't forsake him; a near neighbor beats a far brotherFriendship

With the Hebrew beneath

9

Proverbs 27:9, word by word

Oilשֶׁמֶןshemen

oil

The fat pressed from olives, for eating, lighting or anointing.

Where else “shemen” appears
and incenseקְטֹרֶתketoret

incense

Incense: a mixture of spices burned to give sweet-smelling smoke; also the smoke of a burned sacrifice.

Where else “ketoret” appears
make gladיְשַׂמַּחyesamach

gladden

To make someone feel glad and cheered.

Where else “yesamach” appears
the heartלֵבlev

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.

Where else “lev” appears
the sweetnessמֶתֶקmetek

sweetness

Sweetness; the pleasantness of words.

Where else “metek” appears
of one’s friendרֵעֵree

companion

A companion, a friend.

Where else “ree” appears
is more than the counselעֲצַתatsat

counsel

What is said to someone to help him decide what to do.

Where else “atsat” appears
of the soulנָפֶשׁnafesh

soul

A person's innermost self: what they feel and desire.

Where else “nafesh” appears

The context

8Like a bird that wanders from its nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.

9 · This verse (above)

10Your friend and your father’s friend do not abandon; and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

Read all of Proverbs 27

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