3. The Importance of Friendship

²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
    his heart rages against the Lord.
⁴ Wealth brings many new friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
⁷ All a poor man’s brothers hate him;
    how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.