“There are friends who pretend to be friends”: The Revised Standard Version footnote shows that its rendering follows the ancient versions. The Hebrew text says “A man of friends to be broken up.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates “man of friends” as “A,” allows both the Revised Standard Version “There are friends” and “a man of friends” (that is, “a man who has friends”) as interpretations of the Hebrew. A second textual problem concerns Revised Standard Version “who pretend to be friends” in which the Hebrew text has “to break himself” or “to break to pieces.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project again rates the text as “A,” allows the Revised Standard Version interpretation, and adds two others: “There are some who are friends to bring ruin to each other” and “A man with friends is destined to be ruined.”

“But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”: “A friend” in this line contrasts with the false friends in line 1. “Friend” here translates the word “lover.” It may be necessary to express “a friend” here as “a real friend” or “a true friend.” “Sticks” renders a verb meaning to “cling” or “cleave,” that is, to stay or remain close to you. This kind of friend “remains more loyal than a family member.” Note that New Revised Standard Version expresses the sense of “brother” here as “one’s nearest kin.” Revised English Bible translates the whole saying “Some companions are good only for idle talk, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Another way of expressing the sense is “Some people are friends to you for a short time, but there are some who are good to you more than your brother[s].”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .