A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. | Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. |
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! | If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. |
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity! | How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! |
One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. | Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. |
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. | Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |
As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. | As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. |
A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon the fear of the Almighty. | Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister. | And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. |
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. | Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” | Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” |
Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house on the day of your disaster; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. | Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. |
For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. | I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. |
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. | You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. |
God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious live in parched lands. | God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. |