14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend

forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,

as torrential streams that pass away,

14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend;

But he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook,

And as the stream of brooks they pass away;

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend,

but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook

that overflows its banks in the spring

14 “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,

Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,

Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,

14 “They say, ‘A person’s friends should be kind to him when he is in trouble,

even if he stops fearing the Almighty.’

15 But my brothers cannot be counted on.

They are like streams that do not always flow,

streams that sometimes run over.

14 To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend;

Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook,

As the channel of brooks that pass away;

14 For him that is fainting kindness is meet from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

14 “A friend should treat a troubled person kindly, 

even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty. 

15 My brothers have been as deceptive as seasonal rivers, 

like the seasonal riverbeds that flood. 

14 A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends,

even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi,

as seasonal streams that overflow

14 “Those who withhold kindness from a friend

forsake the fear of the Almighty.

15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed,

like freshets that pass away,

14 “Loyal love should come for the afflicted from his friend,

even if he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed;

like a streambed of wadis they flow away,

14 “A man’s friends should love him when his hope is gone.

They should be faithful to him

even if he stops showing respect for the Mighty One.

15 But my friends aren’t faithful to me.

They are like streams that only flow for part of the year.

They are like rivers that flow over their banks

14 “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;

So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

15 “My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi,

Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,