Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. A sincere friend is to be preferred in adversity to a brother that is not a true friend (Proverbs 18:24). Joseph found more kindness with strangers than with his brethren. Jonathan's friendship afforded David a sympathy which his own brethren did not. Rehoboam's forsaking his "father's friends" cost him the most of his kingdom (1 Kings 12:6-8). Solomon remembered his father's charge, "My son, know thou the God of thy fathers" (1 Chronicles 28:9; cf. Jacob's words, Genesis 48:15-16). This is the Friend "better than a brother," for He is ever near in love and in presence.
(For) better (is) a neighbour (that is) near, than a brother far off. A neighbour near in heart, as well as in locality, is better than a brother as far off in love as he is in distance.