“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6, NKJV). This verse pairs an unlikely image, wounds, with faithfulness, and pairs kisses, usually associated with affection, with deceit.
That reversal is the whole point. A friend’s honest correction, even when it stings, comes from genuine care. An enemy’s flattery, however pleasant, comes from something false.
This is worth remembering both in receiving correction and in deciding whose voice to actually trust. Comfortable words aren’t automatically trustworthy ones.
Who in your life offers faithful wounds rather than deceitful kisses, and are you actually receiving their honesty as the gift this verse describes?