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Reading 1

A kind mouth multiplies friends and appeases enemies,
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 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.

God and Man

[1] The Lord created man out of earth, and turned him back to it again. [2] He
gave to men few days, a limited time, but granted them authority over the things
upon the earth. [3] He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them
in his own image. [4] He placed the fear of them in all living beings, and granted
them dominion over beasts and birds. [6] He gave them ears and a mind for thin-
king. [7] He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them
good and evil. [8] He set his eye upon their hearts to show them the majesty of
his works. [10] And they will praise his holy name, to proclaim the grandeur of
his works. [11] He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law
of life. [12] He established with them an eternal covenant, and showed them his
judgments. [13] Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the
glory of his voice. [14] And he said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.”
[15] And he gave commandment to each of them concerning his neighbor.

The Divine Judge. A Call to Repentance

[15] Their ways are always before him, they will not be bid from his eyes.”