“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9, NKJV). This verse pairs something sensory and pleasant, ointment and perfume, with something relational, a friend’s hearty counsel.
Hearty counsel suggests substance, not empty flattery, but genuine, wholehearted input from someone who actually cares.
That kind of friendship is worth treasuring as much as any pleasant sensory experience this verse compares it to.
Who has recently given you hearty counsel that delighted your heart the way this verse describes, and have you thanked them for it?