Proverbs 27:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

NIV: Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

NASB: Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

CSB: The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

NLT: Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

KJV: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

NKJV: Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

The prior lesson (Proverbs 27:5) noted that "love" which refuses to correct a friend is of no value. It's important to be tactful (Proverbs 15:1, 4, 28) and genuinely loving (Ephesians 4:15), not merely critical. Yet true friendship sometimes means telling others hard truths they aren't eager to hear (Proverbs 27:17). When correction—even in the blunt form of a "rebuke"—is motivated by sincere love, it's a mark of friendship. What the other person says may sting, but they take that risk out of genuine care for a friend.

An enemy, on the other hand, may feign love. Anyone can be insincere and offer affirmation regardless of the situation. This is often a tactic used to disguise ill intent. Judas feigned love for Jesus by kissing Him, but his kiss was deceptive. It was not a sign of love but a signal to soldiers that Jesus was the one they wanted to arrest. Paul warned the Galatian churches about false teachers who used flattery to gain the believers' trust and devotion. At one time the Galatian believers loved Paul. But they turned against him because he corrected them. He writes: "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16). The "wounds" Paul inflicted on the Galatians were painful, but faithful, motivated by truthful love, and for their good.

Proverbs 27:1–6 discusses the uncertainty of life and the danger of overconfidence. Comments on relationships include those with fools (Proverbs 1:7), friends, and enemies. This continues a series of Solomon's wise sayings as collected by later scribes (Proverbs 25:1).

Wise sayings from this chapter warn about overconfidence and bragging. Solomon also encourages positive friendships and the wisdom they provide. He offers several notes about self-examination and the need for personal accountability. Many of the proverbs in this passage touch on the concept of speaking truth in love, even if it's not what the other person would like to hear. The end of the chapter uses the example of livestock to make a point about good stewardship.

This continues a collection of approximately one hundred proverbs associated with Solomon. King Hezekiah's men, probably his scribes, copied these from other scrolls (Proverbs 25:1). This chapter includes references to overconfidence, the value of friendships, and the importance of good stewardship. The assembly of Solomon's wise teachings continues through the end of chapter 29.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.