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17 A friend loves you all the time,
and a brother ·helps in [L is born for a] time of trouble.

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17 
A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

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19 A brother who has been ·insulted [offended] is harder to win back than a walled city,
and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.

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19 
A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.

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24 Some friends may ruin you,
but a real friend will ·be more loyal [cling closer] than a brother.

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24 
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

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Those who ·get wisdom [L acquire heart] ·do themselves a favor [L love themselves],
and those who ·love learning [guard understanding] will succeed.

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He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.

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28 Loyalty and ·truth [faithfulness] ·keep a king in power [protect a king];
he ·continues to rule [supports his throne] if he is loyal.

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28 
Loyalty and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.

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17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and ·perfume [oil] will never be rich.

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17 
He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to [a]wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:17 I.e. items associated with lavish feasting and excessive luxury.

21 Whoever ·tries to live right and be loyal [L pursues righteousness and loyalty]
finds life, ·success [righteousness], and honor.

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21 
He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.(A)

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It is better to correct someone ·openly [publicly]
than to have love and ·not show [hide] it.

The ·slap [bruises] of a friend can be trusted to help you,
but the kisses of an enemy are ·nothing but lies [or dangerous; Matt. 26:48–50].

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Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
Than love that is hidden.(A)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].

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The sweet smell of perfume and oils is pleasant,
and so is good advice from a friend.

10 Don’t ·forget [abandon] your friend or your parent’s friend.
    Don’t always go to your ·family for help [brother] when trouble comes.
A neighbor close by is better than a ·family [brother] far away.

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Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
10 
Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

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Those who love wisdom make their ·parents [L father] happy,
but friends of prostitutes ·waste their money [destroy riches].

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A man who loves [skillful and godly] wisdom makes his father joyful,
But he who associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

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