Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,.... That is, friendly reproofs; which, though they may be severe, at least thought so, and may grieve and wound, and cause pain and uneasiness for the present, yet, proceeding from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, and designed for the good of the person reproved, ought to be kindly received; see Ps 141:5;
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful; flow from a deceitful heart, and not to be confided in, as the kisses of Joab and Judas. It may be rather rendered, "are to be deprecated" {y}; prayed against, as real evils, hurtful and pernicious; and so the Targum renders it, "are evil". Good is the advice of Isocrates {z},
"reckon them faithful, not who praise everything thou sayest or doest, but those that reprove what is amiss.''
{y} twrten "deprecanda", Junius & Tremillius, Piscator, Cocceius, Amama.
{z} Ad Nicoclem, p. 38.