What Does the Bible Say About Choosing Friends?
Here are 14 Bible verses about choosing friends, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #11 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
BSBDo not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- #2Proverbs 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.
- #3Proverbs 13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
BSBHe who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- #4Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
BSBAs iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
- #5Proverbs 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.
- #6Proverbs 12:26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
BSBA righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
- #7Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
BSBDo not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
- #8Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
BSBTwo are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
- #9Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
BSBA perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
- #10Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
BSBOil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- #11John 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.
- #121 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
BSBTherefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- #13Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
BSBWhoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
- #14Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
BSBThe wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).