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 kinsfolk are born to share adversity. |
Some friends can lead us to ruin, but a true friend is closer than a brother. | Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. |
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No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. | No one has greater love 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. | For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. |
How wonderful and delightful it is for brothers to live together in unity. | How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! |
One who forgives a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who divulges it separates good friends. | One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. |
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. | Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is 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. | And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. | A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. |
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the wits of his neighbor. | Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. |
One who despairs should have the support of his friends even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty. | Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty. |
This is the commandment we have received from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. | The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. |
Two are better than one: they earn a far greater reward for their toil. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
Do not let anyone lead you astray. “Bad company corrupts good morals.” | Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” |
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 the friend of your parent; do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than kindred who are 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. | For I am longing to see you so that I may share with 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. |
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. | Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes 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 gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. |