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The New Revised Standard Version
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The Preservation of Friendship

19 One who pricks the eye brings tears,

and one who pricks the heart makes clear its feelings.

20 One who throws a stone at birds scares them away,

and one who reviles a friend destroys a friendship.

21 Even if you draw your sword against a friend,

do not despair, for there is a way back.

22 If you open your mouth against your friend,

do not worry, for reconciliation is possible.

But as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow—

in these cases any friend will take to flight.

23 Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty,

so that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity.

Stand by him in time of distress,

so that you may share with him in his inheritance.d

24 The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire;

so insults precede bloodshed.

25 I am not ashamed to shelter a friend,

and I will not hide from him.

26 But if harm should come to me because of him,

whoever hears of it will beware of him.

NRSV

About The New Revised Standard Version

The original Revised Standard Version served as a standard for nearly forty years. The New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha maintains the traditions of the older version with fresh new vocabulary and modern English construction.

Copyright

Up to five hundred (500) verses of The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible text may be quoted or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted neither amount to a complete book of the Bible nor account for 50% or more of the written text of the total work in which they are quoted.

When the NRSV text is quoted, notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page of the work as follows:

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

When quotations from the NRSV text are used in a non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, the initials (NRSV) may be used at the end of each quotation.

Quotations or reprints in excess of five hundred (500) verses (as well as other permissions requests) must be approved in writing by the NRSV Permissions Office, The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115-0050.

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