Proverbs 12:26

Verse Proverbs 12:26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour] That is, if the neighbour be a wicked man. The spirit of the proverb lies here: The POOR righteous man is more excellent than his sinful neighbour, though affluent and noble. The Syriac has it, "The righteous deviseth good to his neighbour." A late commentator has translated it, "The righteous explore their pastures." How מרעהו can be translated THEIR pastures I know not; but none of the versions understood it in this way. The Vulgate is rather singular: Qui negligit damnum propter amicum, justus est. "He who neglects or sustains a loss for the sake of his friend, is a just man." The Septuagint is insufferable: "The well-instructed righteous man shall be his own friend." One would hope these translators meant not exclusively; he should love his neighbour as himself.