There are many Bible verses on friends from Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is full of practical instruction regarding man’s interactions with their fellow human beings. God has several things to say about friends and how to nurture this necessary and wonderful type of relationship.
Proverbs 14:20
“The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.” (KJV)
Unfortunately, many times those who are not wealthy in material things are disliked since they are financially needy people. In comparison, those who have money also have many people who see the benefits of being their friend.
This same fact is repeated in different wording three times in Proverbs chapter 19:
- Verse 4 “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.” (KJV)
- Verse 6 “Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.” (KJV)
- Verse 7 “All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.” (KJV)
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Proverbs 16:28
“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” (KJV)
The definition of the word “froward” is “perversely inclined; willful; refractory; disobedient; petulant; peevish”. Listening to the conversation, the gossip, about your friend, from this type of person results in you having some strong and negative feelings about the person you really liked. A “whisperer” is one who loves to find out, or guess, deep dark secrets, about other people, then share those juicy tidbits with whomever will listen.
Listening to and believing such malicious gossip will damage, sometimes irreparably, what was once a wonderful friendship. A way to avoid this is not to listen to such gossip. Or if the topic arises, tell the gossip that they, and you, would confront the individual being discussed, to find out if what is being said is true.
If the bearer of such nasty tidings is not willing to face the one they are discussing, then you know for sure this is not correct information.
Employing such tactics can preserve precious friendships.
Proverbs 17:9
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” (KJV)
Offences happen in friendships. Agreeing to forgive, forget and continue with the friendship makes that friendship even stronger. But if the transgression is remembered and repeated to others, this is a way the friendship may dissolve.
Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (KJV)
A friend is faithful and cares about their friends in both good times and in bad. This is contrasted to a family member who may or may not be considered necessarily a friend, but usually in times of trouble, in this verse it is called “adversity”, a family member can be depended upon to help.
Proverbs 18:24
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (KJV)
This is a very practical verse. To get and to keep friends, a person needs to show themselves friendly. This verse also recognizes that a friendship can be stronger than even a family relationship. An application to the words “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” is Jesus Christ. He is that, but since the entire book of Proverbs is about person-to-person relationships, this interpretation of such a friend is only an application. The literal meaning of this verse relates just how close a friendship can be.
Proverbs 22:11
“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” (KJV)
This is a very interesting, yet extremely practical piece of advice about friendships and about personal integrity. God says that the person who wants and who strives to have a pure heart will, because of their pure heart, say gracious things, true things. The result of their kindly words, everyone, including those in prominent positions, like a king, will have such respect for this type of person and will want to be their friend.
Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (KJV)
Friendships, like any other relationships, sometimes involve rebuke and or correction. Such instances are not pleasant, but when rebuke or reproof, it comes from someone who cares very much about you; it is only for your own good. This type of wounding, which is actually beneficial, contrasts with the affections of someone who in actually hates you.
Proverbs 27:9
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” (KJV)
Just as smelling a sweet fragrance is uplifting to the spirits, so too does good advice from a caring and loyal friend lifts the spirits.
Proverbs 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.” (KJV)
This verse encourages us and commands us to nurture and cultivate not only our friends but the friends of our family, even our parents’ friends. And it also cautions against abusing a friendship in times of trouble. It counsels us to use the help of someone nearby, even if we must pay for their services, rather than overuse a friend’s services.
Proverbs 27:14
“He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.” (KJV)
Blessing or complimenting a friend is a good thing and a necessary thing that is a part of a friendship. But when you do this and wake them up before they want to be awake, this is not welcome to your friend and therefore they get angry with you and justifiably so!
Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (KJV)
Two metals when rubbed against each other benefit both of them. So too, by exchanging ideas and talking with your friend, this practice is beneficial to both of you.
May these Bible verses on friends from proverbs encourage you and help you nurture the wonderful and sometimes mysterious relationship of that of a friendship.
