ON FRIENDS

A kind mouth multiplies friends

and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.

Let your acquiances 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 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 behave accordingly,

and his friend will be like himself.

(Book of Sirach 6:5-17)