John Gill Commentary Proverbs 27:6

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse." — Proverbs 27:6 (ASV)

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 (Psalms 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" ^F25 ; prayed against, as real evils, hurtful and pernicious; and so the Targum renders it, "are evil". Good is the advice of Isocrates ^F26 , ``reckon them faithful, not who praise everything you say or do, but those that reprove what is amiss.''

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FOOTNOTES:

• F25: (twrten) "deprecanda", Junius & Tremillius, Piscator, Cocceius, Amama.
• F26: Ad Nicoclem, p. 38.