| A true friend is one at all times, and a brother is born to render help in time of need. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| Some friends can lead us to ruin, but a true friend is 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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| No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. | Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. |
| And if one should fall, his companion will help him up. How pathetic is the man who is alone and falls and has no one to assist him to his feet. | 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. |
| How wonderful and delightful 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 forgives a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who divulges it separates good friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. Everyone who loves is 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 where a single man can be overcome, two together will be able to resist. A cord with three strands is not easily broken. | Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |
| A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the wits of his neighbor. | As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. |
| One who despairs should have the support of his friends even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty. | Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| This is the commandment we have received from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. | And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. |
| Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. | Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
| Do not let anyone lead you astray. “Bad company corrupts good morals.” | Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” |
| Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your father, and do not run to your brother’s house when troubles befall you; far better is a friend nearby than a brother who is 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 am longing to see you so that I may bestow on you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or, rather, so that we may be mutually encouraged by each 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. |
| Adulterers! Do you not know that love of the world results in enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a lover 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. |
| He gives a home to those who are forsaken and leads out prisoners amid chants of exultation, while rebels are forced to live in an arid land. | God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. |
