²⁶ The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

^20 (A)One who walks with wise people will be wise,
But a companion of fools will suffer harm.

⁷ Leave the ^(A)presence of a fool,
Or you will not ^[a]discern ^[b]words of knowledge.

¹⁷ A ^(A)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

²⁴ A person of too many friends comes to ^[a]ruin,
But there is ^(A)a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

24 Do not be ^(A)envious of evil people,
Nor desire to ^(B)be with them;
² For their ^[a]minds plot ^(C)violence,
And their lips ^(D)talk of trouble.

⁸ Like a ^(A)bird that wanders from its nest,
So is a person who ^(B)wanders from his ^[a]home.
^9 (C)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
And a ^[b]person’s advice is sweet to his friend.
¹⁰ Do not abandon your ^(D)friend or ^(E)your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house on the day of your disaster;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

²⁴ One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He ^(A)hears the oath but tells nothing.