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

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach^[a]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

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

⁸ The one who acquires good sense^[a] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.^(A)

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

¹⁷ The one who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.^(A)

²¹ The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love
will find life, righteousness, and honor.^(A)

⁵ Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.^(A)

⁶ The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,^(B)
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.^(C)

⁹ Oil^(A) 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,^(B)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.^(C)

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,^(A)
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.^(B)