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" 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 נעתרות "deprecanda", Junius & Tremillius, Piscator, Cocceius, Amama. z Ad Nicoclem, p. 38.