## To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend ##
"A friend should be kind to the person who feels hopeless" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
## even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty ##
"even if he stops honoring Almighty God" (UDB) Possible meanings are 1) the person does not fear God or 2) His friend does not fear God.
## But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed ##
Job is describing his friends as being like a "wadi" which is a stream that can suddenly dry up and is not dependable. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])
## as channels of water that pass away to nothing ##
"like streams of water that dry up"
## which are darkened because of ice over them ##
"which are dark like ice"
## and because of the snow that hides itself in them ##
"and the snow hides in them" or "the snow disappears in them"
## When they thaw out, they vanish ##
"When they warm up, they disappear"
## when it is hot, they melt out of their place ##
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