The Bible gives us various knowledge and wisdom about choosing the right friends. Not everyone we talk to and associate with is our friend.
A friend is someone who will help us walk in God’s way, help us stay on the path of righteousness, and encourage us to participate in the glory of God. A friend is someone who will encourage us in everything we do and will never lead us astray.
If we read the Bible, we will see the story of the friendship of David and Jonathan. From here we can learn what a true friend is and how a friend helps us receive God’s blessings in our lives.
Dear friends, now let’s look at the following Bible scriptures that discuss choosing the right friends.
Proverbs 10:9 : —
“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known”
Proverbs 11:13-14 : —
“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matterWhere no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety”
Proverbs 12:2 : —
“A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord : but a man of wicked devices will he condemn”
Proverbs 12:26 : —
“The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them”
Proverbs 13:1 : —
“A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke”
Proverbs 13:20 : —
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed”
Proverbs 14:6-7 : —
“A scorner seeketh wisdom, findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandethGo from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge”
Proverbs 15:22 : —
“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established”
Proverbs 15:31-32 : —
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wiseHe that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding”
Proverbs 16:28 : —
“A froward man soweth strife: a whisperer separateth chief friends”
Proverbs 17:17 : —
“A friend loveth at all times, a brother is born for adversity”
Proverbs 18:1 : —
“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh intermeddleth with all wisdom”
Proverbs 18:24 : —
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”
Proverbs 19:20 : —
“Hear counsel, receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end”
Proverbs 20:19 : —
“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips”
Proverbs 21:19 : —
“It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious an angry woman”
Proverbs 22:10-11 : —
“Cast out the scorner, contention shall go out; yea, strife reproach shall ceaseHe that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend”
Proverbs 22:24-25 : —
“Make no friendship with an angry man; with a furious man thou shalt not goLest thou learn his ways, get a snare to thy soul”
Proverbs 22:29 : —
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men”
Proverbs 23:20-21 : —
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of fleshFor the drunkard the glutton shall come to poverty: drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags”
Proverbs 24:1-2 : —
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with themFor their heart studieth destruction, their lips talk of mischief”
Proverbs 24:21-22 : —
“My son, fear thou the Lord the king: meddle not with them that are given to changeFor their calamity shall rise suddenly; who knoweth the ruin of them both?”
Proverbs 25:12 : —
“As an earring of gold, an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear”
Proverbs 25:17 : —
“Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, so hate thee”
Proverbs 25:19 : —
“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, a foot out of joint”
Proverbs 25:28 : —
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, without walls”
Proverbs 27:10 : —
“Thine own friend, 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”
Proverbs 27:17 : —
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend”
Proverbs 28:7 : —
“Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father”
Proverbs 28:9 : —
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination”
Proverbs 2:20 : —
“That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, keep the paths of the righteous”
Proverbs 4:14-15 : —
“Enter not into the path of the wicked, go not in the way of evil menAvoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, pass away”
Psalm 101:6-7 : —
“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve meHe that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight”
Psalm 1:1 : —
“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”
Psalm 26:4-5 : —
“I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblersI have hated the congregation of evil doers; will not sit with the wicked”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 : —
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labourFor 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”
James 4:4 : —
“Ye adulterers 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”
Romans 12:10 : —
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”
Romans 16:17 : —
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; avoid them”
Luke 6:31 : —
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”
Ephesians 4:29 : —
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
John 15:13 : —
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”
Matthew 18:20 : —
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
Colossians 3:12-14 : —
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsufferingForbearing one another, forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do yeAnd above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness”
Philippians 2:3 : —
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”
Titus 3:10 : —
“A man that is an heretick after the first second admonition reject”