(101) Friends are near.

Should you draw a sword against a friend, despair not, it can be undone. (Sir 22:23)

A friend owes kindness to one in despair, though he have forsaken the fear of the Almighty. (Job 6:14)

He who is a friend is always a friend, and a brother is born for the time of stress. (Prov 17:17)

Some friends bring ruin on us, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother. (Prov 18:25)

Perfume and incense gladden the heart, but by grief the soul is torn asunder. (Prov 27:9)

As one face differs from another, so does one human heart from another. (Prov 27:19)

I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. (Luke 11:8)

A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him for one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. Keep away from your enemies; be on your guard with your friends. A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself. (Sir 6:5-17)

In our prosperity we cannot know our friends; in adversity an enemy will not remain concealed. When a man is successful even his enemy is friendly; in adversity even his friend disappears. (Sir 12:8-9)