Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother 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. |
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. | The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. |
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As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. | Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. |
As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. | Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another. |