What the Bible says about friendship

The 15 verses readers most often turn to for this topic, quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible.

Prov 18:24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Prov 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Prov 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.

1 Cor 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Prov 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

Prov 27:6The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Prov 22:24–25Do 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.

Prov 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Prov 12:26A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

Eccl 4:9–10Two 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!

Prov 17:9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

Job 6:14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

1 Pet 4:8–10Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

These are the verses readers most often turn to for this topic — not a teaching on it. Read each in its chapter.

Sources

The verses of each topic and their order: OpenBible.info topical data, by readers’ votes: OpenBible.info · CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain