Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Honest, heartfelt advice from a friend is as welcome as perfume.
KJV6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. 9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. 10Thine 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. 11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Short sayings of practical wisdom for everyday life, many attributed to Solomon.
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Ruth’s vow to her mother-in-law Naomi, now a classic vow of faithful love: where you go I will go, your God will be my God.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Where the friendship of David and Jonathan begins: a king’s son and a shepherd, their souls knit together.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Carrying someone else’s burden is the law of Christ lived out, and it is meant to be shared, not carried alone.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Friendship in two movements: share the joy, and share the tears.