1 Every friend will say, “I also am his
friend”; but there is a friend which is only a
friend in name.

2 Isn’t there a grief in it even to death
when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy?

3 O wicked imagination, why were you
formed to cover the dry land with deceit?

4 There is a companion who rejoices in the
gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction
will be against him.

5 There is a companion who for the belly’s
sake labors with his friend, yet in the
face of battle will carry his buckler.

6 Don’t forget a friend in your soul.
Don’t be unmindful of him in your
riches.

7 Every counselor extols counsel,
but some give counsel in their own
interest.

8 Let your soul beware of a counselor,
and know in advance whatis his interest
(for he will take counsel for himself ),
lest he cast the lot against you,

9 and say to you, “Your way is good.”
Then he will stand near you, to see
what will happen to you.

10 Don’t take counsel with one who looks
askance at you. Hide your counsel from
those who are jealous of you.

11 Don’t consult with a woman about her
rival, with a coward about war,
with a merchant about business,
with a buyer about selling,
with an envious man about thankfulness,
with an unmerciful man about kindliness,
with a sluggard about any kind of
work, with a hireling in your house about
finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much
business. Pay no attention to these in any matter
of counsel.

12 But rather be continually with a godly
man, whom you know to be a keeper of the
commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul,
and who will grieve with you, if you fail.

13 Make the counsel of your heart stand,
for there is no one more faithfulto you
than it.

14 For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to
inform him better than seven watchmen who sit
on high on a watch-tower.