What Does the Bible Say About Abandoning Friends?
Here are 14 Bible verses about abandoning friends, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
BSBA man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- #2Proverbs 27:10
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.
BSBDo not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
- #3Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
BSBA friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- #4Psalms 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
BSBEven my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- #5Psalms 55:12-14
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
BSBFor it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend. We shared sweet fellowship together; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
- #6Proverbs 19:4
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
BSBWealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
- #7Matthew 26:31-35
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
BSBThen Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
- #8Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
BSBThe poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
- #9John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
BSBGreater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- #101 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
BSBDo not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- #11Job 19:14
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
BSBMy kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me.
- #12Psalms 27:10
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
BSBThough my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
- #131 Corinthians 5:11
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
BSBBut now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
- #142 Timothy 4:16
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
BSBAt my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).