Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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

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Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.(A)

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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)

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Footnotes

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

Perfume(A) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(B) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

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