A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. |
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend 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. | There is no greater love than 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 one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. |
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity! | How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! |
One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends. | Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it 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 continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child 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. | A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. |
As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another. | As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. |
A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends. | A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. |
For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon the fear of the Almighty. | One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any 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: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. |
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. | Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. |
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” | Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “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. | Never abandon a friend— either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives 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. | For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. |
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 adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself 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 places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. |