A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity. | A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. |
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. | A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. | Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. |
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. | For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. |
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! | See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! |
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. | He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. |
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. | Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. |
And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. | If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. |
Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. | Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. |
Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty. | To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. | This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother. |
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. |
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” | Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” |
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. | Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother. |
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. | For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. |
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. | You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. | God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. |