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11 He who loves purity of heart
    and hasgracious speech,[a] his friend is the king.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Literally “grace of his lips”

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

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24 Do not befriend an owner[a] of anger,[b]
    and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:24 Or “master”
  2. Proverbs 22:24 Literally “nostril”

24 Don’t befriend angry people
    or associate with hot-tempered people,

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26 He will kiss the lips,
    he who gives an honest answer.

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26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss of friendship.

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The wounds of a friend mean well,
    but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

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Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

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Perfume and incense will gladden a heart,
    and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice.[a]
10 As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them,
    and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity.
    Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:9 Literally “because of advice of a person”

The heartfelt counsel of a friend
    is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend—
    either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
    It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

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17 As iron sharpens[a] iron,
    so one man sharpens another.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:17 Or “is united with”
  2. Proverbs 27:17 Literally “a man sharpens the faces of his friend”

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so a friend sharpens a friend.

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He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.

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Young people who obey the law are wise;
    those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 28:7 Hebrew their father.

A strong man who flatters his neighbor
    is spreading a net for his feet.

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To flatter friends
    is to lay a trap for their feet.

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