Proverbs 18:21-24

21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.^[a]

22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.^[b]

23 The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly.

24 A man with many friends may be harmed,^[c] but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^[d]

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 13:2; Mt 15:11,18-20; Jms 3:8
• [b]. Pr 19:14; 31:10
• [c]. Some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg read friends must be friendly
• [d]. Pr 17:17; 27:10; Jn 15:13