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

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

⁷ Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.^(A)

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

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

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

⁸ Anyone wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.^(A)

⁹ 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)

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