being a friend

¹⁷Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

²⁴A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.

¹⁷Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

¹³No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.

⁹Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul.

³³Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals.

⁹Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship. ¹⁰If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up. ¹¹And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed? ¹²And if a man can prevail against one, two may withstand him, and a threefold cord is broken with difficulty.

⁹Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.

²⁴Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man, ²⁵lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.

¹¹Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

²⁶He who ignores a loss for the sake of a friend is just. But the way of the impious will deceive them.

²³And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.

¹⁴He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.

⁵An open rebuke is better than hidden love. ⁶The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.

⁴You adulterers! Do you not know that the friendship of this world is hostile to God? Therefore, whoever has chosen to be a friend of this world has been made into an enemy of God.

³¹And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same.

⁸But, before all things, have a constant mutual charity among yourselves. For love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹Show hospitality to one another without complaining. ¹⁰Just as each of you has received grace, minister in the same way to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

¹⁵I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

²⁰Whoever keeps step with the wise shall be wise. A friend of the foolish will become like them.