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

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17 Friends love all the time,
    and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.

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

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19 An offended ally is more formidable than a city;
    such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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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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24 There are persons for companionship,
    but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.

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

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Those who acquire good sense love themselves;
    those who keep understanding find success.

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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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28 Kindness and faithfulness protect the king;
    he supports his throne by kindness.

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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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17 Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.

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

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21 Those who pursue righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.

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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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A public correction is better than hidden love.
Trustworthy are the bruises of a friend;
    excessive are the kisses of an enemy.

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(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

Oil and incense make the heart glad,
    and the sweetness of friends comes from their advice.[a]
10 Don’t desert your friend or a friend of your family;
    don’t go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes.
    Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Heb uncertain

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

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A man who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
    but one who spends time with prostitutes destroys riches.

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