Proverbs 27:8-14
Proverbs 27:8-14 New International Version (NIV)
Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home. 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. Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
Proverbs 27:8-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress. He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:8-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest. The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad. Then I will be able to answer my critics. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
Proverbs 27:8-14 English Standard Version Revision 2016 (ESV)
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress. Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
Proverbs 27:8-14 The Message (MSG)
People who won’t settle down, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro. Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. Don’t leave your friends or your parents’ friends and run home to your family when things get rough; Better a nearby friend than a distant family. Become wise, dear child, and make me happy; then nothing the world throws my way will upset me. A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned. If you wake your friend in the early morning by shouting “Rise and shine!” It will sound to him more like a curse than a blessing.
Proverbs 27:8-14 King James Version (KJV)
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place. 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. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and are punished. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, And take a pledge of him for a strange woman. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:8-14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home. Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me. A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty. Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge. He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:8-14 New Century Version (NCV)
A person who leaves his home is like a bird that leaves its nest. The sweet smell of perfume and oils is pleasant, and so is good advice from a friend. Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your family for help when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a family far away. Be wise, my child, and make me happy. Then I can respond to any insult. The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble. Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s loan, and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes. If you loudly greet your neighbor early in the morning, he will think of it as a curse.
Proverbs 27:8-14 American Standard Version (ASV)
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place. Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel. Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me. A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:8-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety], So is a man who wanders from his home. Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart. Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me. [Prov 10:1; 23:15, 24] A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it, But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin]. [Prov 22:3] [The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger; And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].” [Prov 20:16] He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].
Proverbs 27:8-14 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Like a bird that has fallen from its nest is the one who is dislodged from his home. Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence. So never give up on a friend or abandon a friend of your father— for in the day of your brokenness you won’t have to run to a relative for help. A friend nearby is better than a relative far away. My son, when you walk in wisdom, my heart is filled with gladness, for the way you live is proof that I’ve not taught you in vain. A wise, shrewd person discerns the danger ahead and prepares himself, but the naïve simpleton never looks ahead and suffers the consequences. Cosign for one you barely know and you will pay a great price! Anyone stupid enough to guarantee the loan of another deserves to have his property seized in payment. Do you think you’re blessing your neighbors when you sing at the top of your lungs early in the morning? Don’t be fooled— they’ll curse you for doing it!