King James Bible
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
Solomon compares kind, gracious speech to honeycomb—a prized delicacy in ancient times that represented both luxury and natural goodness. The comparison emphasizes that pleasant words are valuable, desirable, and pure in their beneficial effects. Just as honey delights the taste, encouraging words bring deep emotional and spiritual satisfaction. The Hebrew concept of 'soul' (nephesh) encompasses the whole inner person, suggesting that kind speech nourishes our deepest being. The proverb extends beyond emotional comfort to physical well-being, as bones represent the body's core strength in Hebrew thought. This reflects the biblical understanding that words have power to affect our total health—spiritually, emotionally, and physically.