26 A righteous man is careful in dealing with his neighbor,[a]
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:26 Or man guides his neighbor

26 The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,[a]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:26 Heb uncertain

20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

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20 Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.

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Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(A)

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Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t learn wise speech there.

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17 A friend loves at all times,(A)
and a brother is born for a difficult time.

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17 Friends love all the time,
    and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.

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24 A man with many friends may be harmed,[a]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:24 Some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg read friends must be friendly

24 There are persons for companionship,
    but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.

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24 Don’t envy evil men(A)
or desire to be with them,(B)
for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.(C)

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24 Don’t envy evil people,
    and don’t long to be with them.
Their hearts are focused on violence,
    and their lips speak of trouble.

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16 If you find honey,(A) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.(B)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;
otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.

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16 If you find honey, eat just the right amount;
    otherwise, you’ll get full and vomit it up.
17 Don’t spend too much time in your neighbor’s house.
    Otherwise, they’ll get fed up with you and hate you.

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A man wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.(A)

Oil(B) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.[a]

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,(C)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 LXX reads heart, but the soul is torn up by affliction

Like a bird wandering from its nest,
    so is one who wanders from home.
Oil and incense make the heart glad,
    and the sweetness of friends comes from their advice.[a]
10 Don’t desert your friend or a friend of your family;
    don’t go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes.
    Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Heb uncertain

24 To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself;
he hears the curse but will not testify.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:24 When a call for witnesses was made public, anyone with information who did not submit his testimony was under a curse.

24 Those who share plunder with thieves hate themselves;
    even under oath, they don’t testify.

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