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(A)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 (B)your father's friend,
    and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
(C)Better is a neighbour who is near
    than a brother who is far away.
11 (D)Be wise, (E)my son, and (F)make my heart glad,
    that I may (G)answer him who reproaches me.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Or and so does the sweetness of a friend that comes from his earnest 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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