34 verses · KJV · every verse read aloud
The Bible says a true friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17) and can stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Good friends sharpen and lift each other up (Proverbs 27:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Jesus showed the greatest love by laying down His life for His friends (John 15:13), and He calls those who obey Him His friends.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 17:17
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 18:24
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For 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. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Two 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! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 27:17
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 27:9
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Job 6:14
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 15:13
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 15:14-15
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about James 2:23
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Exodus 33:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Galatians 6:2
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Romans 12:10
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Hebrews 10:24-25
8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Above 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.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Peter 4:8-10
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Luke 6:31
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 133:1
Ruth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, and Job's friends.
16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Ruth 1:16-17
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Samuel 18:1-3
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Samuel 23:16
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Now when Job’s three friends— Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite— heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Job 2:11
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 27:6
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 27:5
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 17:9
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 16:28
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Colossians 3:13
12For 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: 13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
For 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.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 55:12-14
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 13:20
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Corinthians 15:33
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 1:1
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Do 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.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Proverbs 22:24-25
I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about Psalms 119:63
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about James 4:4
Easy to memorize, to write in a card, or to send to a friend.
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 KJV · 13 words
Listen“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 KJV · 12 words
Listen“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV · 13 words
Listen“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 KJV · 12 words
Listen“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Romans 12:10 KJV · 14 words
Listen“Open rebuke is better than secret love.”
Proverbs 27:5 KJV · 7 words
Listen“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Proverbs 16:28 KJV · 11 words
Listen“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV · 8 words
ListenThe words behind the English. Each word page has a Listen button for how it is said.
philos Greek · Strong’s G5384
friend
Hear it & see its versesrea Hebrew · Strong’s H7453
friend, companion, neighbor
Hear it & see its versesA true friend loves at all times, tells the truth even when it hurts, and helps you up when you fall. Friends make each other better, the way iron sharpens iron. The highest friendship is with Jesus, who laid down His life for His friends.
Listen: Proverbs 17:17 · Proverbs 27:17 · John 15:13
Proverbs 17:17 and Proverbs 18:24 are the most loved friendship verses. John 15:13 shows the greatest love of all: Jesus laying down His life for His friends.
Listen: Proverbs 18:24 · John 15:13
David and Jonathan are the best-known pair: Jonathan loved David as his own soul. Ruth stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi and would not leave her. Job's three friends came to sit with him in his grief.
Listen: 1 Samuel 18:1-3 · Ruth 1:16-17
He that walks with wise men will be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed. Paul warns that evil company corrupts good manners. Choose friends who fear God and help you follow Him.
Listen: Proverbs 13:20 · 1 Corinthians 15:33
David knew the pain of a close friend turning against him. Scripture asks us to forgive as Christ forgave us and, as far as it depends on us, to live peaceably with all, while trusting God with what we cannot fix.
Listen: Psalms 55:12-14 · Colossians 3:13 · Romans 12:18
James warns that friendship with the world is enmity with God. This means loving the world's ways more than God, not refusing kindness to unbelievers, whom Jesus also loved and served.
Listen: James 4:4
Every verse, read aloud
