Translation commentary on Proverbs 27:10

This verse has three lines in the Hebrew text. The first two are warnings and the third seems to be a popular saying. All three lines appear to be independent of each other.

“Your friend, and your father’s friend, do not forsake”: This line advises people not to neglect old family friends. See Good News Translation for a natural rendering of this line in English.

“And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity”: This line, which is omitted by New English Bible, is rated as “A” by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which translates it the same as Revised Standard Version except that “calamity” is replaced by “misfortune.” “Your brother” may have the wider sense of “your relative,” as in 17.17. For “calamity” see 1.26. The warning here is the opposite of the idea expressed in 17.17, where it says that brothers may be helpful in times of trouble.

“Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away”: This saying recommends making friends with the local people, because a person’s brother or relative may live far away and be unable to help. See Good News Translation for a model translation.

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 27:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 27:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “When your relatives are far away your neighbors help you,
    so, do not neglect/dismiss the friends of your homestead.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend.
    When trouble happens to you
    Don’t go to your brothers to beg for help.
    Neighbors who live close by will help [you better]
    than brothers who live far away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Do- not -forget your (sing.) friend, or the friend of your (sing.) father. And if you (sing.) are in difficulty, you (sing.) no-longer ask help from your (sing.) sibling who is there in a far-(place). A nearby neighbor is better than a distant sibling.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Do not (sing.) turn-your-back-on original friends of your (sing.) family. Do not (sing.) go-to your (sing.) companions far-away if you (sing.) have difficulty because your (sing.) neighbors will-have-more with-which-to-help than they.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Do not neglect your friends or your parents’ friends;
    and at a time when you are experiencing a disaster, do not go to a relative who lives far away to request his help;
    someone who lives near you can help you more than relatives who live far away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)