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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. 18:19 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read is stronger

19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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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 of many companions may come to ruin,
    but (A)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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

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Footnotes

  1. 19:8 Lit acquires a heart

(A)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will (B)discover good.

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

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28 (A)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his (B)throne is upheld.

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

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17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

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

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21 Whoever (A)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (B)life, righteousness, and honor.

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Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.(A)

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

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(A)Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.
Faithful are (B)the wounds of a friend;
    profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

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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

(A)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
    and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.[a]
10 Do not forsake your friend and (B)your father's friend,
    and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
(C)Better is a neighbor who is near
    than a brother who is far away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Or and so does the sweetness of a friend that comes from his earnest counsel

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

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He who (A)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but (B)a companion of prostitutes (C)squanders his wealth.

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