26  One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,¹

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

20  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

7  Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

17  ^kA friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

24  A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but ^zthere is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1  Be not ^uenvious of evil men,

nor desire to be ^vwith them,

2  for their hearts ^wdevise violence,

and their lips ^xtalk of trouble.

16  If you have ^ffound honey, eat ^gonly enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17  Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

8  Like ^fa bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9  ^gOil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.¹

10  Do not forsake your friend and ^hyour father’s friend,

and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.

ⁱBetter is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

24  The partner of a thief ^ghates his own life;

^hhe hears the curse, but discloses nothing.