A Comparison of Proverbs 27:9-10

Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.
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.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Meaning-for-Meaning (Closest Natural Equivalence)

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

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.
King James Version (KJV)
Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence)

» SHOP FOR A BIBLE NOW «

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.

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.
New International Version (NIV)
Thought-for-Thought (Functional Equivalence)

Friendly suggestions are as pleasant as perfume.

Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. Then you won’t need to go to a distant relative for help in your time of need.
The Living Bible (TLB)
Paraphrase (Retelling)

Visit our Bible Translation Guide for more information about the major differences between the clear, natural English of God’s Word and other translations.