Proverbs 27:9 (GNV)

Passage

As oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart, so doeth the sweetenes of a mans friend by hearty counsell.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 27:7 The person that is full, despiseth an hony combe: but vnto the hungry soule euery bitter thing is sweete.

Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandreth from her nest, so is a man that wandreth from his owne place.

Proverbs 27:9 As oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart, so doeth the sweetenes of a mans friend by hearty counsell.

Proverbs 27:10 Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend forsake thou not: neither enter into thy brothers house in the day of thy calamitie: for better is a neighbour that is neere, then a brother farre off.

Proverbs 27:11 My sonne, be wise, and reioyce mine heart, that I may answere him that reprocheth me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "oyntment", "perfume", "reioyce", "heart", "doeth", "sweetenes", "mans", and "friend". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "oyntment" and "perfume", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "As a bird that wandreth from her..." into verse 10's "Thine owne friend and thy fathers friend...", so "oyntment" and "perfume" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "oyntment" and "perfume" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.