5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies. (WEB) 6 Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand. (WEB) 7 If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing, and don’t be in a hurry to trust him. (WEB)
Sirach 6:5–7
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 6:13–15
13 Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends. (WEB) 14 A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure. (WEB) 15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price. (WEB)
Sirach 37:1–2
1 Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name. (WEB) 2 Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy? (WEB)
Proverbs 18:23–24
23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly. 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Sirach 12:7–9
7 Give to the good man, and don’t help the sinner. (WEB) 8 A man’s friend won’t be fully tried in prosperity. His enemy won’t be hidden in adversity. (WEB) 9 In a man’s prosperity, his enemies are grieved. In his adversity, even his friend leaves. (WEB)
Proverbs 27:5–7
5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
Sirach 22:22–24
22 If you have opened your mouth against a friend, don’t be afraid, for there may be reconciliation, unless it is for insulting, arrogance, disclosing of a secret, or a treacherous blow— for these things any friend will flee. (WEB) 23 Gain trust with your neighbor in his… (WEB) 24 … (WEB)
Proverbs 19:5–7
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. 6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver. 7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them w…
Sirach 7:17–19
17 Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm. (WEB) 18 Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir. (WEB) 19 Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. (WEB)
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