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| A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. |
A kind mouth multiplies friends, and
gracious lips prompt friendly Greetings. Let your acquaintances be many, but
one in a thousand your confidant. When you gain a friend, first test him, and
be not too ready to trust him. For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits
him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. Another is a friend who
becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. Another is a friend,
a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes.
When things go
well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; But if you are
brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. Keep away from your
enemies; be on your guard with your friends. A faithful friend is a sturdy
shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price,
no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as
he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his
friend will be like himself
