Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbor. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy consellor. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity: and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches; and there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress. A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find Him. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be (Ecclesiasticus 6:1–17).