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Many try to win the kindness of a generous person,
and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.
The entire family of a poor person hates him.
How much more do his friends keep their distance from him!
When he chases them with words, they are gone.
A person who gains sense loves himself.
One who guards understanding finds something good.

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Many curry favor with a ruler,(A)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!(C)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.[a](D)

The one who gets wisdom loves life;
    the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.