Proverbs 17:17
ContextNET © | A friend 1 loves at all times, and a relative 2 is born to help in adversity. 3 |
NIV © | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. |
NASB © | A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. |
NLT © | A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. |
MSG © | Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. |
BBE © | A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. |
NRSV © | A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity. |
NKJV © | A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. |
KJV | |
NASB © | |
HEBREW | |
LXXM | |
NET © [draft] ITL | |
NET © | A friend 1 loves at all times, and a relative 2 is born to help in adversity. 3 |
NET © Notes |
1 sn The verse uses synonymous parallelism, so “friend” and “relative” are equated. Others, however, will take the verse with antithetical parallelism: W. G. Plaut argues that friendship is a spiritual relationship whereas a brother’s ties are based on a blood relationship – often adversity is the only thing that brings brothers together (Proverbs, 189). 2 tn Heb “a brother.” 3 tn Heb “is born for adversity.” This is not referring to sibling rivalry but to the loyalty a brother shows during times of calamity. This is not to say that a brother only shows loyalty when there is trouble, nor that he always does in these times (e.g., 18:19, 24; 19:7; 27:10). The true friend is the same as a brotherly relation – in times of greatest need the loyal love is displayed. |