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Proverbs 18:24

FriendshipFaithfulness and loyaltyLoneliness

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
KJV
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
WEB
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
ASV
He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
DARBY
A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
BLB
A man of companions may come to ruin, and there is a lover adhering more than a brother.
ÅB
En mann med mange venner går det ille; men der er venner som henger fastere ved en enn en bror.
OTB
En med for mange venner kan komme til ruin, men det er en venn som holder seg nærmere enn en bror.
B1930
En mann med mange venner går det ille; men der er venner som henger fastere ved en enn en bror.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 17:17

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

    Read in context

  • John 15:13–15

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

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 27:9

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

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 1:26

    I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 19:4–5

    Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 9:1–13

    Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 21:7

    Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 16:17

    “Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

    Read in context