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26 A righteous person is cautious in friendship,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

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26 The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor,
    but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.

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20 One who walks with wise men grows wise,
    but a companion of fools suffers harm.

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20 Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools suffers harm.

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Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

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Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you will not find competent advice.

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17 A friend loves at all times;
    and a brother is born for adversity.

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17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is there[a] for times of trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:17 Lit. born

24 A man of many companions may be ruined,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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24 A man with many[a] friends can still be ruined,
    but one who keeps on loving sticks closer than a brother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:24 The Heb. lacks many

24 Don’t be envious of evil men,
    neither desire to be with them;
for their hearts plot violence
    and their lips talk about mischief.

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Benefits of Wisdom

24 Don’t be envious of wicked men
or wish you were with them,
because they[a] plan violence,
    and they are always talking[b] about trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:2 Lit. because their hearts
  2. Proverbs 24:2 Lit. and their lips talk

16 Have you found honey?
    Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
    lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
    lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

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16 If you find some honey,
    eat only what you need.
Take too much,
    and you’ll vomit.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s home;
    otherwise, he’ll grow weary and hate you.

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As a bird that wanders from her nest,
    so is a man who wanders from his home.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart;
    so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
10 Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend.
    Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
    A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.

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Like a bird that strays from its nest
    is a man who wanders away from his home.[a]

Ointments and perfume encourage the heart;
    in a similar way, a friend’s advice is sweet to the soul.[b]

10 Never abandon your friend nor your father’s friend,
    and don’t go to your brother’s house in times of trouble.
A neighbor who is near is better
    than a brother who lives far away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:8 Lit. place
  2. Proverbs 27:9 So MT; LXX reads heart; but through misfortune the soul is torn apart

24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul.
    He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

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24 A thief’s accomplice hates himself;
    though testifying under oath,[a] he reveals nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:24 Lit. though he hears the oath