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Like 1a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.
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2Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
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Do not forsake your friend and 3your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. 4Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
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5Be wise, 6my son, and 7make my heart glad, that I may 8answer him who reproaches me.
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9The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but 10the simple go on and suffer for it.
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11Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.
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Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
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12A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
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to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.
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Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
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13Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who 14guards his master will be honored.
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As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
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15Sheol and Abaddon are 16never satisfied, and 17never satisfied are the eyes of man.
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18The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
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19Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
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20Know well the condition of your flocks, and 21give attention to your herds,
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for 22riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
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23When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
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24the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.
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25There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.