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

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

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

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

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Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy,
    but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:6 Lit. enemy are profuse

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

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Footnotes

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

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

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Footnotes

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

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

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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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