FEBRUARY: A poem to friendship.

Sirach 6; 5-15

5 Pleasant speech gains more friends for itself, and a sweet-speaking tongue will multiply pleasant exchanges. Let those who are at peace with you be many, but let only one in a thousand be your advisor.
7 If you make friends, test them thoroughly and don’t trust them quickly.
8 Some are friends when it is convenient, but they won’t stay around during hard times.
9 There are friends who turn into enemies, and they will reveal your disgraceful arguments.
10 There are friends who are companions at your table, but they won’t stay during hard times.
11 They will act as if your belongings are theirs, and they will be bold toward your household slaves.
12 If you are brought low, they will be against you, and they will abandon you.
13 Stay away from your enemies, and be careful with your friends.
14 Trustworthy friends are a strong shelter; whoever finds one has found a treasure.
15 Trustworthy friends have no price, and no one can estimate their worth.