Bible Verses About Friendship

27 verses in the King James Version (KJV) and the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Good friends sharpen us, sit with us, and tell us the truth when it's hard to hear. The Bible has a lot to say about friendship, especially in Proverbs, and it holds up examples like David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi. Jesus even called his followers friends. These verses can help you be a better friend, choose your company wisely, and appreciate the people who have stayed close. Consider sending one to a friend today.

Proverbs 17:17

KJV

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
BSB

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24

KJV

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
BSB

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:17

KJV

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
BSB

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:6

KJV

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
BSB

The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:9

KJV

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
BSB

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
Proverbs 13:20

KJV

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
BSB

He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Proverbs 12:26

KJV

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
BSB

A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
Proverbs 16:28

KJV

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
BSB

A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Proverbs 22:24

KJV

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
BSB

Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
Proverbs 22:25

KJV

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
BSB

or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
John 15:13

KJV

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
BSB

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14

KJV

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
BSB

You are My friends if you do what I command you.
John 15:15

KJV

Henceforth 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.
BSB

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.
Ecclesiastes 4:9

KJV

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
BSB

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Ecclesiastes 4:10

KJV

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.
BSB

For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:12

KJV

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
BSB

And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
1 Corinthians 15:33

KJV

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
BSB

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Romans 12:10

KJV

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
BSB

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

KJV

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
BSB

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Job 2:11

KJV

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.
BSB

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.
1 Samuel 18:1

KJV

And 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.
BSB

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
Ruth 1:16

KJV

And 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:
BSB

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.
Galatians 6:2

KJV

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
BSB

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Colossians 3:13

KJV

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
BSB

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
1 Peter 4:8

KJV

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
BSB

Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Philippians 2:3

KJV

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
BSB

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Philippians 2:4

KJV

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
BSB

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

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