17A friend loves at all times,
         And a brother is born for adversity.

18A man lacking in sense pledges
         And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

19He who loves transgression loves strife;
         He who raises his door seeks destruction.

20He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
         And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
         And the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,
         But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom
         To pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,
         But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father
         And bitterness to her who bore him.

26It is also not good to fine the righteous,
         Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27He who restrains his words has knowledge,
         And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
         When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

NASB ©1995

American Standard Version
A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

Darby Bible Translation
The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

English Revised Version
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Webster's Bible Translation
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

World English Bible
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Young's Literal Translation
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.April 8. "A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like a Medicine" (Prov. xvii. 22).
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