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Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
    but the soul is torn by trouble.[a]
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Gk: Heb the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel

Perfume(A) 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(B) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(C)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(D)

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