Proverbs 27:6

Faithful ¹  are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses ²  of an enemy are excessive. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 27:6

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

biblegateway Pro 27:6

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

biblegateway Pro 27:6

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

biblegateway Pro 27:6

The wounds from a lover are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in.

SABDAweb Pro 27:6

The wounds of a friend are given in good faith, but the kisses of a hater are false.

bibleoremus Pro 27:6

Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts, but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

biblegateway Pro 27:6

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

biblegateway Pro 27:6

Faithful ¹  are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses ²  of an enemy are excessive. ³ 

¹ tn The Niphal participle of אָמַן (’aman) means “faithful; reliable; sure; trustworthy.” The word indicates that the wounds from a friend “can be trusted” (so NIV, NCV) because they are meant to correct and not to destroy (e.g., 25:12; Deut 7:9; Job 12:20).

² sn “Kisses” probably represents a metonymy of adjunct; the term describes any expressions or indications of affection. But coming from an enemy, they will be insincere – as indicated by their excessive number.

³ tn The form is נַעְתָּרוֹת (na’tarot), the Niphal participle of עָתַר (’atar, “to be abundant”). Contemporary translations render this rare form in a number of different ways: “deceitful” (NASB, NKJV); “profuse” (NRSV); “many” (NLT). But the idea of “excessive” or “numerous” fits very well. The kisses of an enemy cannot be trusted, no matter how often they are presented.